Paddy Procurement Hit Over Delay In Issuance Of Tokens In Odisha's Rayagada

Rayagada: Inordinate delay in paddy procurement due to the non-issuance of tokens has triggered widespread resentment among the farmers of Kolnara and Bissamcuttack blocks in Rayagada district.

Several farmers in Kolnara block are left in the lurch as they are forced to wait at different market yards in the block with their produce lying open under the sky.

Bulk of the paddy stock is yet to be lifted as several farmers have not received tokens which are being issued through a centralised system. As several farmers could not complete their registration process, they are now in dilemma over the token system.

Considering the prevailing situation, many farmers have reportedly made up their mind to sell their produce to middlemen even if they suffer losses.

"We are facing problems due to the token system. Though we had completed the registration process in September, we are yet to receive the tokens. The mandis have been opened, but we don't know how the procurement process will start without tokens," alleged S Apulu Swami, a farmer.

"We have been waiting with paddy at the market yard for the past several days. We are unable to sell our stock as we don't have tokens," alleged another farmer, Tapas Behera.

On the other hand, the farmers reportedly locked up a mandi at Bissamcuttack block in the district recently after the LAMPS authorities allegedly refused to buy their produce without token.

While the 16,416 farmers in the district registered their names to get the centralised tokens for paddy procurement, 967 applications are still under consideration, sources said.

A farmer of Bissamcuttack block, Jagannath Padhi alleged, "Many farmers have not registered their names. When they are applying for the registration now, the authorities concerned are refusing to accept their forms."

District Civil Supplies Officer, Brajendra Nayak informed, "The online website for registration has been closed. There are reports from all the 30 districts where farmers are yet to enroll their names. Once the website opens, steps will be taken up to resolve such issues. The government has been intimated about the problem through the district Collector."