Bargarh: Amid travel restrictions, market closure and various forms of lockdown in place, the agricultural sector has been badly hit in Bargarh district. It is especially so for the dairy farmers of the district.
The dairy farmers of Bargarh block Sunday poured their day’s yield on NH-53 alleging negligence on part of government and Sambalpur Milk Producer Association managed by OMFED in collecting milk from them.
“If the state government can allow liquor shops to open, why harass milk vendors,” a farmer rued.
According to the farmers, at least 5,000 litres of milk was poured on the road. This was the second time that the milk producers staged such a demonstration.
Some of the protestors said they started supplying milk to OMFED after the state government announced certain relaxations in COVID-19 lockdown back in May.
However, Sambalpur Milk Producer Association managed by OMFED refused to procure milk from the registered dairy farmers in the district after another lockdown was announced in some parts of the state from July 17. As a result, many milk producers here have suffered huge losses.
The members said the agitation would be intensified from next week if the district administration does not take proper steps to allow milk procurement from the farmers.
PNN