Attabira: Many parts of the state continued to receive heavy rainfall, accompanied by hailstorm and gusty winds. This is causing huge loss to the farmers in Attabira block of Bargarh district where the hailstorm destroyed the entire lot of standing paddy crops. Harvested paddy crops kept in open fields for further processes were also destroyed due to the rain.
On the other hand, the delay on the part of the administration in the opening of paddy procurement centres has left the farmers in the lurch. They are forced to sell their produce to traders cheap, much below the minimum support price (MSP).
Taking advantage, the traders are buying paddy at Rs 900-950 for a sack (75kg) while the actual rate is over Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. The affected farmers feared distress sale due to the illegal procurement.
They are largely upset over the administration’s failure to open the mandis.