Post News Network
Balasore, Dec 23: Distress sale of paddy is reportedly on the rise in this district due to the inordinate delay in opening of market yards which has left scores of farmers, marginal and sharecroppers in particular, in the lurch.
Traders of other states, cashing in on the helplessness of the poor farmers, procure paddy for something between Rs 700 and Rs 800 per quintal against the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1, 410 fixed by the state government, alleged Premranjan Patra, a farmer leader of the district.
According to reports, the marginal farmers and farmers who raised crops on sharing basis still wait endlessly for the opening of the procurement centres after harvesting paddy in the month of October. They expect to clear their loans and meet their household needs after selling their produce in the yards, but in vain. Though the district administration earlier announced to open the yards by December 10, it is yet to live up to its commitment. Left with no option, most of the farmers prefer to sell their produce at throwaway prices failing to withstand the pressure mounted on them by moneylenders.
To a query about the delay in opening of procurement centres, district civil supplies officer Jayshankar Manipatra said they are yet to finalise the required number of rice millers and this has caused the interruption. According to government norms, the millers, who had returned 90 per cent of rice, are only eligible to receive the paddy consignment this year, Manipatra said, adding only nine such millers have met the criteria. Rest of the millers could return 50 to 80 per cent of the rice, he said holding FCI responsible for the problem.
According to Mnaipatra, though FCI lifted its quota of kharif crops, it has only lifted 50 per cent of its share of rabi crops from the millers resulting in huge stocking of rice with them. On the other hand, the administration is also not in a position to collect rice from millers as it found its godowns full since the rice consignments are yet to be delivered to NFSA beneficiaries due to delay in distribution of ration cards.
It was learnt that efforts were on to collect rice from millers so that they can reach the benchmark of 90 per cent. That would make them eligible to collect paddy from market yards. At least 10 more millers would be available within two to three days, officials said.
At present, the administration aims at opening 163 mandis in the district which are most likely to be operational by Monday, the officer said and urged farmers to wait patiently till then. PNN