Malkangiri: Farmers in Kudumulgumma block of the district are under distress over failing to sell their hard-earned produce in due time.
Braving intense cold, farmers are guarding paddy under the open sky at several places, whereas some others have hit the streets protesting delay in opening of mandis.
With good rains, farming community of the area was hopeful of a good profit this season but government's apathy has delayed the procurement process thereby leaving the farmers in lurch, locals alleged.
"Our paddy stocks have been lying in the open for past 15 days. Although we have informed about the matter to people's representatives including the local MLA and sarpanchs, no one is paying heed to our concerns. We have also apprised the collector regarding the issue but it did not yield any result," said a farmer of Malkangiri.
Another woman farmer of the district said, "Neither are we able to get right price of our crops nor are the mandis procuring on time.”
Refuting the charges, Abhimanyu Mohanty, Civil Supplies officer of Malkangiri said, "Paddy stocks of all farmers will be procured in time and we are working in that direction."