Basudevpur: Farmers in various parts of Basudevpur block in Bhadrak are a worried lot as their paddy stocked in the open have not been procured till date. Millers, who are affiliated to a local society, have reportedly not tuned up to procure it.
Source said farmers have stocked about 3200 quintals of paddy in the open under disposal of Barantua Cooperative Society, the biggest society in the district.
Farmers alleged that two millers, who signed agreements with the society to procure paddy, are not coming for procurement on appointed days. The staff of the society and farmers have expressed unhappiness over delay in paddy procurement.
They have demanded intervention of the civil supplies department and the district administration, seeking immediate procurement of the paddy, which may get damaged if it remains exposed to sun and dew for a long period.
Farmer of four panchayats—Arandua, Barantua, Narasinghpur, Aruha and four wards of the Basudevpur municipality have registered themselves online for paddy sale through the cooperative society.
About 2000 farmers are operating under this society, which have provided loans worth Rs 6 crore to the former. Farmers are in a hurry to pay back loans with the money from sale of their paddy.
The society has been given a target to procure 40,000 quintals of paddy this season at a rate of Rs 1410 per quintal.
However, official sources claimed that 22,000 quintals of paddy have been procured. The staff of the society and farmers alleged that YGP Rice mill at Sabarang and Laxmi Rice mill in Mayurbhanj, programmed to procure paddy, are not coming after lifting only 22,000 quintals from the society.
They were supposed to procure paddy Mondays and Fridays, but they did not procure paddy for four days from February 2 to 8.
As a result, paddy remained stocked in the open in the absence of a store house. Paddy remains exposed to sun and dew. A couple of days ago, there was a drizzle in the area, over which farmers were worried about chances of paddy getting damaged.
Contacted, president of the cooperative society Nagendra Biswal said the problem has arisen as two rice millers have not lifted paddy on fixed days.
PNN
