Jeypore: Hundreds of farmers of Jamunda and Kanga panchayat under Jeypore block in Koraput district Wednesday staged a road blockade on NH-26 at Kumuliput road alleging mismanagement in paddy procurement at various procurement centres.
Many vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the road from morning as the farmers sat on the road for more than three hours protesting against the delay in procurement.
According to the agitating farmers, the administration has tasked the SHGs (Self Help Group) with paddy procurement instead of LAMPS (large area multi-purpose cooperative societies) this year. The inefficiency of SHGs has led to delays in procurement and payment. It has also resulted in thousands of quintals of paddy lying at procurement centres.
On being informed, MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati and sub collector Loknath Dalabehera reached the spot and tried to pacify the irate farmers. The blockade was lifted after the collector assured the farmers to look into the issue.
