Rasulpur: Reports about irregularities in the supply of groundnuts and sunflower seeds are worrying farmers in Jajpur district. The negligent attitude of agriculture office staffers have added to their tension.
Tension ran high at the local agriculture office Monday after farmers locked the office alleging irregularities in the supply of groundnut and sunflower seeds. Finding the block agriculture officer absent the protesters staged a demonstration and submitted a written complaint to Rasulpur BDO Ashok Kumar Beuria.
The BDO accepted the complaint and promised to take action after a meeting with the agriculture department.
Sources said around 30 farmers of Rasulpur block came to the agriculture office for groundnut and sunflower seeds. The farmers said the seeds meant for them had been bungled by officials. Many farmers had to buy seeds on their own due to the delay in supply.
The farmers said that assistant agriculture officer Bhagyadhar Sahu had gone on leave fearing public anger. As in-charge of supplying seeds to both Rasulpur and Bari block, Sahu focused on Bari farmers and ignored the farmers of Rasulpur, sources said. He stayed in Bari and made frequent visits to Rasulpur.
The farmers failed to meet Sahu at his office even after repeated visits to the agriculture office and they locked the office. The protesters relented only after the BDO assured steps to solve the problem and talk to the district agriculture officer. PNN
