Bhandaripokhari: Alleging discrimination in paddy procurement by cooperative authorities and indifference of the administration, hundreds of farmers staged protests near the tehsil office in Bhandaripokhari block of Bhadrak Friday.
They accused officials of Naguan cooperative society of adopting discriminatory policy in paddy procurement.
Since March 2, farmers have stacked their paddy sacks at a ground near the tehsil for procurement, but paddy is not being procured, they said.
It was alleged that some farmers have sold off their entire paddy while scores of them have not been sold theirs.
The farmers had earlier locked up the tehsil gate over the issue. Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan had written to the Collector and the civil supplies department for immediate start of procurement.
Farmers said agitation will go on until the authorities start paddy procurement.
Later, officials of the cooperative society and the civil supplies department held talks with farmers and assured them that paddy will be procured by next Monday
PNN