Sambalpur: Uncertainty looms large over the paddy procurement process in Sambalpur district following the alarming spread of coronavirus infections among farmers and the subsequent lockdown imposed to check the pandemic, a report said.
According to reports, the second wave of Covid-19 has triggered panic and fear among the farmers with many of them being infected by the virus. One farmer has succumbed to the infectious disease.
The paddy procurement process was launched in the district May 10 and is being done through 30 co-operative societies and 10 women’s self-help groups (SHGs) under the Sadar block and Kuchinda sub-divisions.
As a result, family members of the coronavirus-infected farmers and the survivors of the deceased are concerned over the sale of their paddy stocks. Moreover, the manner in which tokens have been issued for paddy procurement is also a cause of concern for the farmers.
It is alleged that farmers who have harvested their paddy are yet to be issued tokens, while those preparing for harvest have already been issued with tokens. This has pushed the farmers into trouble.
The validity of tokens lapses if the farmers do not sell their paddy within 12 -15 days from the date of their issue. Farmers questioned as to how one can sell paddy within the time period if it has not been harvested.
A farmer from Sikarpali village under Jujumura block, Bisi Behera died of Covid-19, his family members alleged. He had been issued a token bearing the registration number F-2804000112 to sell 130 quintals of paddy in the first phase at a cooperative society, May 10.
He, however, succumbed to the disease at VIMSAR Covid hospital in Burla, May 12. The death of Bisi has pushed his family into distress.
They now ponder how to sell the harvested paddy within the time period of 12 to 15 days. As many farmers are dying due to Covid, sale of their harvested paddy stocks has become a problem for their family members.
Moreover, with many coronavirus-infected farmers visiting the market yard to sell their harvested paddy, fears of community transmission have gripped other farmers.
The government rule stipulates that a farmer has to sell his harvested paddy within 12 to 15 days of receiving the token, while a person has to spent 14-days in quarantine if he/she tests Covid positive.
Another farmer, G Ravana of Chandamunda village said that tokens were issued to farmers for procurement of 1,000 quintals of harvested paddy as against applications submitted for sale of paddy grown on 45 acres.
However, tokens have been issued only for 130 quintals of paddy harvested by each farmer. The harvested paddy has been stacked for sale but thunderstorm and unseasonal rain have posed another threat to the safe keeping of the produce.
Paddy stocks will remain unsold after the validity of tokens expires. He demanded that the government should intervene and safeguard their interests failing which the paddy harvested by them will remain unsold and rot.
When contacted, Lingaraj Nayak, deputy registrar of cooperative societies (DRCS), said that coronavirus-infected farmers will not face any problems. Their paddy stocks can be sold within the validity period of tokens.
They will get their IRIS scan done after recovery and receive their payments. The survivors of the deceased farmers will have to apply again for permission to sell their paddy stocks. However, the payment will be credited into the deceased’s account and the nominee will have to withdraw the money, he added.
PNN
