Lephripada (Sundargarh): Farmers of Lephripada block in Sundargarh district have allegedly resorted to distress sale of paddy and traders from Chhattisgarh are taking advantage of this situation.
According to a report, tonnes of paddy are being transported out of the block every day. Distress sale was reported from Surguda, Giringkela, Dumabahal and some other villages in the block.
Small and marginal farmers are selling their paddy at prices much lower than the government-fixed MSP in others areas too, but the administration is allegedly keeping quiet.
Traders cart away paddy in tractors and pick-up vans from Sarapagad, Kanseijharan, Bailama and Manaharpalli.
Intellectuals and experts observed that if the administration fails to take any step to check paddy distress sale, the government will fall short of the procurement target. However, officials are unaware of the distress sale.
Nodal officer of Lephripada block’s paddy procurement committee and BDO Pallabirani Raj denied having any complaint in this regard. The BDO said the matter will be looked into and steps will be taken.
Reports from Reamal in Deogarh district said farmers were upset over the halt in paddy procurement at Naulipada Cooperative Society.
Jatindra Sahu, the president of the cooperative society, that a seven-member delegation will apprise Collector Sudhansu Mohan Samal, MLA Niten Gangdev and district civil supplies officer about the problem.
A target was set to procure 39,190 quintals of paddy from 739 farmers in 45 villages under Naulipada, Budido, Lulang, Malehipada and Kantabahal panchayats.
However, only 13,590 quintals of paddy have been procured. Almost 70 per cent of paddy has not been procured in the area.
The locals have squarely blamed it on the district civil supplies department. They warned of an agitation if quick steps are not taken in this direction.
A delegation comprising farmer leader Hrushikesh Pradhan, ex-sarpanch Yudhisthir Pradhan, Naulipada sarpanch Amar Ballabh Pradhan, others like Rabicharan Sahu and Jatindra Sahu submitted a memorandum to the MLA and the Collector.
PNN