Mandis yet to be opened for paddy procurement in Bhadrak

Bhadrak: Farmers in Bhadrak are a worried lot owing to the delay in paddy procurement process in the district. While the procurement process was supposed to be done through 108 cooperative societies, it has been alleged that most of them are not currently functional.

According to sources, three panchayats and six wards of Bhadrak municipality are dependent on these cooperative societies for paddy procurement; however delay in the procurement process has left the farmers of the region in severe distress.

The farmers have also submitted a memorandum to the district collector regarding their problem, but any step is yet to be taken for the same.

“Mandis are not yet operational. Though we have apprised the district administration about the issue, they haven’t paid any heed to us. The authorities have asked us to sell our paddy in Berhampur. But it’s difficult for us to cover a long distance and bear transport expenses," rued a farmer Chandramani Nayak.

“Our paddy stocks are lying in open and getting affected due to unseasonal rain. We are facing a tough time due to the delay in opening mandi,” alleged another farmer Achyutananda Rout.

On the other hand, Bhadrak Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Swatibala Mohapatra said that mandis are not opened yet as a case regarding appointment of new secretary of the society pending before the High Court.

“Despite the order of the High Court asking for removal of the present secretary, the society is not agreeing to it. We can’t act against the High Court order,” she stated.

“Therefore, paddy procurement can be arranged at other places as per the convenience of the farmers “she added.