Basudevpur: With the state government yet to open mandis in Basudevpur area of Bhadrak, paddy farmers are mulling distress sale. In Basudevpur, billed as rice bowl of Bhadrak, the farmers have got a bumper harvest of the crop.
Absence of mandies in the block has encouraged traders to make a beeline for the village to buy paddy at low prices.
The government has decided to procure paddy from farmers at Rs 1470 per quintal through cooperative societies, but the farmers are being forced to sell paddy at Rs 900 to 1000 per quintal, losing almost Rs 400 to 500 per quintal, it is alleged.
To make matters worse for farmers, cooperative societies are facing lots of difficulties to make payments to farmers because of demonitisation.
Farmers alleged that lack of coordination between rice millers, cooperative societies and the administration has worsened their problems. With paddy stocks lying in the open unsold their problems are growing with each passing day.
They are not being able to pay off their debts. The farmers are an impatient lot. Without waiting for delay, they are compelled to dispose of their paddy, they added.
There are 22 cooperative societies in Basudevpur. Farmers pointed out that distress sale has been forced on them by the machinations of rice millers and cooperative staff. Brokers and traders are cashing in on the situation and lift paddy at throwaway prices.
Branch manager of Balasore-Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank (BCCB) Narendranath Bihari admitted that there is a lack of coordination between rice milers and the cooperative staff. Farmers demanded that the administration paid heed to their plight and check distress sale. PNN
