Baripada: The government has been implementing a host of welfare schemes for farmers and pitching for a hike in the paddy MSP, but paddy distress sale continued to be a pestering issue for hundreds of farmers in Kuliana and other pockets of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district.
With paddy remaining unsold for days and the procurement system in disarray, traders and middlemen are raking in moolahs, , it was alleged.
Given the mess, the farmers felt let down in Palashbani, Munidhada, Raghunathpur, Marangtandi, Bhuyangada and Hatimada under Kuliana block.
A strange scene unfolded on the Collectorate Wednesday when some farmers—Kunu Soren, Lagan Hansda, Bikash Mohant, Muralidhar Kalia, Mohan Hembram, Sumant Behera and Rakesh Mohant — came a long way from their villages along with their unsold paddy packets there and took up the issue with Collector Vineet Bhardwaj.
They piled up their paddy packets under a banyan tree on the premises of the Collectorate as a mark of protest.
They accused the local LAMPS of neglecting procurement of genuine farmers.
“Our paddy is not being bought by the local LAMPS. A system should be put in place here at the Collectorate for paddy sale,” farmers demanded.
To sort out the issue, the Collector talked to the district civil supplies officer before sending the farmers to him.
Paddy procurement was started from December 17 in Mayurbhanj district through 53 LAMPS and 97 paddy procurement centres.
The civil supplies department has set a target to procure 7,05,882. 35 quintals of rice. A dozen of millers have been engaged in the process.
Farmers are supposed to sell their produce at the LAMPS, but traders and middlemen are allowed to sell their paddy there while genuine farmers are deprived of selling, the farmers alleged.
Such irregularities were alleged at LAMPS at Kuliana and Chandua.
PNN