'No Token, No Paddy Procurement' Irk Farmers In Odisha

Bargarh: After getting assurance from Minister Sushant Singh on Thursday, farmers in western Odisha called off protest with a hope that they could sell their paddy without tokens. However, the market yard authorities in several parts of Bargarh district are allegedly not accepting paddy without tokens.

Hundreds of paddy sacks are now lying unattended in different market yards at Kalapani and Attabira. “It’s unfortunate that we are unable to sell our paddy even after the minister's assurance. The market yard authorities are accepting paddy only from farmers having tokens,” alleged a farmer leader, Birendra Kumar Kar.

“The token system in paddy procurement is a total failure. The MLA had assured us to generate tokens for us within two hours, but even after 24 hours we have not received any token. Besides, the market yard authorities are not accepting our paddy,” said another farmer, Suresh Nikanti.

Responding to the allegations, Deputy Registrar of Co-Operative Societies (DRCS) in Bargarh, Bhakta Bandhu Sahoo said, “We are purchasing paddy from the farmers. Seven farmers sold their crops yesterday and we will continue the process today too.”

Meanwhile, the farmers in the district have warned the government to go on a strike once again if the procurement process doesn't get normalised soon.