Bhadrak: Allegations of irregularities in paddy procurement have cropped up in Basudevpur of Bhadrak district. While the procurement process was supposed to be done through 22 cooperative societies, it has been alleged that only two of them are currently functional.
"The mandis opened from December 1 but nobody is procuring paddy. State government is saying that it intends to help the farmers but we haven't got any help till now. Even though we are planning for other crops, we don't have any money," a farmer Harekrushna Behera said.
Due to delay in procurement after harvest, farmers are reportedly resorting to distress sale. Another farmer Basant Kumat Rout said, "Those people from whom who we borrowed money are now asking us to pay them back. We have no other options left."
Assuring that the mandis will become fully operational very soon, Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies of Bhadrak, Swatimala Mahapatra, said "In Basudevpur, some mandis are yet to be operational. Our staff today resolved some issues and we hope that by Saturday all of them will be fully functional."