Khaprakhol: Farmers reeling under loan burdens have been left in lurch after the state government closed paddy procurement mandis February 4.
Expressing resentment, farmers in Khaprakhol block in Bolangir district have demanded a second phase procurement process in the district.
Protesting alleged distress sale of paddy, the farmers demanded procurement of all grains, including the share croppers.
Though the farmers this time harvested bumper paddy, many are unable to sell their produce due to the late opening and early closure of mandis. Moreover, the government has fixed lower procurement target for each district.
This has forced the farmers to sell their products to middlemen and miller agents of Andhra Pradesh.
As per reports, as many as 328 farmers had registered themselves in Khaprakhol cooperative society and the administration had set a target to procure at least 28,473 quintal of paddy this year.
However, till now only 15,403 quintal paddy has been procured after the mandis were closed. When the farmers demanded the officials to procure the remaining paddy, they denied claiming that the target was fulfilled, the farmers alleged.
While the government is opening mandis to stop farmers from distress sale and falling prey to traders and middlemen, the early closure of the mandis proves that the government is least bothered about the plight of farmers, they said.
“We had to spend so much money on transport to bring the paddy from our fields to the mandis. We were made to spend sleepless nights in the chilling cold weather for months to sell our produce. But, now they say that the target is fulfilled,” a farmer said.
“This is the reason why we sell the produce directly to traders instead of bringing it to mandis. While fake farmers sold their produce and left, real farmers are languishing here in the cold, guarding their paddy,” a farmer said.
When contacted, Patnagarh sub-division supply officer Bijay Kumar Kulu said that he was not informed about the condition of the farmers by the cooperative society staff.
“Since the government has stopped the procurement process, nothing can be done now. But, I will try to bring the condition of the farmers to the notice of the senior officials,” Kulu added.
Meanwhile, angry farmers threatened to stage a mass demonstration if steps are not taken for a second phase procurement.
