2,500 bags of paddy lying for over a week at Nuapada’s Tukla Mandi, farmers fear token lapse

Paddy procurement has come to a standstill at the Tukla mandi under Khariar block in Nuapada district, where harvested paddy has been lying unattended for the past one week, causing concern among farmers. The mandi caters to farmers from Tukla and Risi gram panchayats, who depend on timely lifting of their produce to avoid losses.

According to available information, paddy belonging to 949 farmers, amounting to 45,338 quintals, has already been lifted from the mandi. However, around 2,500 bags of paddy are still lying at the procurement centre, awaiting lifting. Farmers fear that further delays could result in serious financial setbacks.

Ongoing Agitation By Rice Millers

Sources said the lifting process was initially disrupted due to the absence of labourers on January 1 and Paush Purnima, which delayed operations. The situation worsened due to the ongoing agitation by rice millers, which has halted paddy lifting in several areas, including the Tukla mandi.

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“My produce is lying here for days together even as the token was of Dec 20. I have brought 75 quintals. Some farmers have their son’s or daughter’s marriage, and all of us depend on mandis. So, I request the government to hold necessary talks with the millers and resolve the matter. Farmers are going through unwanted problems. Cows are grazing here, so we have to stay here day and night,” alleged a farmer.

Fear Of Token Lapse

With no resolution in sight, farmers are now worried that if the paddy is not lifted in the coming days, the tokens issued for procurement may lapse, leaving them in a difficult situation. Responding to the concerns, the PACS secretary stated that the delay is directly linked to the millers’ agitation and assured that once the protest ends, all the pending paddy at the mandi will be lifted.