Koraput farmers threaten non-cooperation to kharif paddy procurement

Jeypore: Farmers of Korapur district have threatened not to co-operate the government in kharif paddy procurement process beginning November 15.

It was decided at a 'Krushak Samabesh' meeting organsied by District Farmers' Association at Phamuni here that no farmer in the district would give kharif paddy to the mandi ( procurement centre) as the government is yet to pay the pending amount of Rabi crop procured on June 30.

Hundreds of farmers from Baipariguda, Borigumma, Kotpad, Kundura, and Jeypore blocks, who attended the meeting, questioned transparency of government machineries.

Meanwhile, politics hot up over the paddy procurement issue. BJD spokesperson Rabi Narayan Nanda passed the buck to district collectors over non-payment of pending amount, while Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati threatened to stage dharna in front of the office of sub-collector.

“The government has directed the collector in writing for disbursement of farmer's money. But the collector did not pay heed to government directive", Rabi Nanda said.

On the other hand, local legislator Tara Prasad Bahinipati said "I will stage a sit-in in front of the sub-collector's office on Tuesday with the farmers. If the peasants do not get their dues, law and order situation would arise and State government would be responsible for it".