Bhandaripokhari: Amid allegations of a mess in paddy procurement system at Naguan cooperative society under this block in Bhadrak, top officials of the Balasore-Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank and the civil supplies department visited the society and checked its documents.
Farmers had earlier alleged that traders and middlemen are influencing the procurement in various fraudulent ways.
Alleging irregularities in paddy procurement, some farmers staged protests outside Naguan Primary Cooperative Society and even had locked it two days ago.
They alleged that the society has engaged some traders to procure paddy and supply it to millers.
Though the society is said to have procured more paddy than that of the previous year, many farmers have not been able to sell off their paddy in the current year.
The society has registered some traders as farmers and procured paddy from them, thus depriving farmers of availing their own interests.
Recently, farmers had detained a paddy laden truck in Bhandaripokhari area and the consignment had not valid documents. The truck had been handed over to local police.
The surprise visit by top officials of BCCB has raised hopes for farmers in sorting out procurement bottlenecks.
PNN
