Beguniapada: Even as pest attacks and unseasonal rain brought huge losses to the farmers in the State, negligence in paddy procurement by the government has added to the plight of farmers.
Taking advantage, traders from Andhra Pradesh are now out to take benefits of the situation. They are buying paddy directly from the farmland at lesser prices.
“We have no option but to dispose of our paddy at the farmland as procurement centres are yet to open in the district. Besides, there are rules and regulations for selling paddy at procurement centres. Better to hand over to the traders,” said some farmers.
Earlier, the district collector had fixed December 21 for opening of paddy procurement centres in the district. However, many millers have not yet deposited the cash for procurement. According to rules, the millers will get an authorization slip after deposit of cash. Later, the authorization slip will be sent to co-operative societies following which the paddy procurement takes place. This may take place in January.
Farmers who are already in need of money cannot wait for so long and have sold the produce to traders from Andhra Pradesh. The traders take full advantage of the helpless condition of farmers.
Even as the government has fixed the price of standard paddy at Rs 1,550 and Grade 1 paddy at Rs 1,590 a quintal, the traders take it at much less prices. Reports suggested the traders bought paddy at Rs 900-950 a quintal.
Farmers would have got some benefits if the government had opened the paddy procurement centres by now, the farmers claimed. Even as many farmers shifted their paddy to their homes due to the unseasonal rain a few days back, many felt convenient to sell off paddy to the traders in the farms itself.
It would have been helpful if the government opens paddy procurement centres as soon as possible, many farmers demanded. PNN
