Maize price row: Farmers enforce shutdown in three blocks of Nabarangpur

Farmers intensified their agitation in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district on Monday, announcing an indefinite shutdown to protest the distress sale of maize and alleged delays in lifting paddy from procurement centres.

Acting on a call given by the Farmers’ Federation, normal life came to a standstill in three blocks, Umerkote, Raighar and Jharigaon.

Markets remained closed, and vehicular movement was disrupted as farmers staged road blockades at key junctions. Protesters parked vehicles loaded with paddy and maize on state highways, bringing traffic to a halt.

The agitating farmers alleged that despite the Centre fixing the minimum support price (MSP) of maize at Rs 2,400 per quintal, cultivators in Nabarangpur are being forced to sell their produce at prices ranging between Rs 1,700 and Rs 1,800 per quintal.

“We farmers have united from all three blocks, Umerkote, Raighar and Jharigaon, and blocked the roads to demand our rights. We have never faced such difficulties in our area before,” said one of the protesters.

The farmers also claimed that the state government’s much-publicised Maize Mission has failed to deliver benefits at the ground level. According to the Farmers’ Federation, repeated complaints and representations to the local administration have failed to yield any response, leaving cultivators with no option but to intensify the protest.

Demand for Paddy Lifting, Indefinite Shutdown

Apart from demanding remunerative prices for maize, the farmers are seeking immediate lifting of paddy from mandis, warning that further delays could result in crop damage and financial losses.

Expressing frustration over what they termed administrative apathy, the farmers announced that the shutdown will continue till the December 29, 2025.

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Situation Under Watch

The agitation has heightened tensions in the district, with authorities closely monitoring the situation. Traffic disruptions were reported on several key routes as the protest continued.