Bhawanipatana: Farmers here say that mandis for procuring paddy have not opened in Kalahandi district so far due to pressure from millers.
Kalahandi district is the second largest paddy producing district in Odisha. The NITI Aayog has certified that the district is developing tremendously in the agricultural sector.
But till now the district administration has not made proper arrangements for procuring paddy. The District Paddy Collection Committee had decided that paddy procurement would start May 15. But due to pressure from millers uncertainty is now looming over the opening of mandis in the district. Farmers are worried as their paddy is ready for sale, and any delay can cause losses to them.
The Kalahandi Millers Association has given a memorandum containing 11 demands to the collector May 4. The collector had called a meeting with millers May 10 regarding this. Nine demands of the millers were accepted by the district administration.
The millers had demanded Rs 6 per quintal of paddy as storage charges during kharif. The administration told the millers that the state can’t bear the charges demanded by them. The association threatened the state government that if it does not accept all their demands they will not buy paddy from mandis.
The administration has given the memorandum of the millers association to the state government and has recommended appropriate action. The administration suggested that the state government should allow millers of other districts to buy paddy from the farmers of Kalahandi.
Sources said every year millers try to apply pressure on the state government regarding maintenance of mandis.
As per the Indian Metrological Department monsoon will hit Kerala by June 6. Odisha is likely to get rains from June first week. So the state government should take a quick decision on this. Otherwise it will be very difficult for farmers of Kalahandi to sell their paddy after May.