Bhandaripokhari: Scores of farmers staged protests at the block office Wednesday after paddy procurement was halted at Naguan Cooperative society under this block in Bhadrak district.
Angry farmers stocked paddy sacks on the premises of the block office. The agitation was led by president of the cooperative society Ramesh Chandra Bharti.
Reports said farmers have registered for procurement of 61,000 quintals of paddy with the society. Farmers had sought an extended target but it is not being done.
They had intimated the issue to the BDO, the additional tehsildar and the civil supplies officer but no step was taken to sort out the issue.
Farmers alleged that though they are supplying paddy, millers are not procuring it.
They have been facing a lot of problems as they are forced to stock paddy under the sun and dew for the last 10 days.
In such a situation, farmers are resorting to distress sale of paddy. They sell their produce to middlemen at prices much less than the MSP.
On the other hand, the administration has not come forward to address the distress sale of paddy and is taking no action against the millers breaching terms and conditions, it is alleged.
The authorities have given permission for 18,000 quintals of paddy while only 15,000 quintals have been procured.
Farmers alleged 30 per cent of the paddy is yet to be procured.
They also demanded the millers to procure 2,000 quintals of paddy everyday instead of 700 quintals while the society should have a minimum target of 25,000 quintals.
After the agitation, millers lifted three truckloads of paddy.
PNN