Sundergarh: Even as the procurement of paddy began almost a month ago in Odisha, farmers of Sundergarh district alleged that they are facing a harrowing time to sell their harvest due to delay in opening of mandis.
Farmers of the district also claimed that they have not received the tokens which the State government has made mandatory for paddy procurement. "We have already begun packing of the paddy. However, we are worried as neither the mandis have been opened, nor we have received any token from the State government," alleged Maheswar Bhoi, a farmer.
District Civil Supplies Officer, Bhikari Charan Mangaraj, on the other hand, claimed that farmers of the district have been sensitized about the token system.
"We have already made the farmers aware about the token system. Apart from distributing leaflets, we have conducted several awareness programmes at the panchayat level," informed Mangaraj.
"Till date, we have bought 65,780 quintals of paddy through 36 out of 47 LAMPS in the district. Other LAMPS will be opened in a couple of days," he added.