Sambalpur: Alleging severe irregularities in the paddy procurement process, Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS) Monday threatened a shutdown in Sambalpur district December 19.
The outfit accused the administration of indifference towards ‘mounting losses of farmers’ during the kharif procurement process.
It is alleged that lapses in token generation have left vehicles loaded with paddy stranded for days near mandis, leading to quality deterioration and rising transport expenses.
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POKSSS convenor Ashok Pradhan said that about 40,000 farmers were issued only one token each, which is grossly inadequate to dispose of their harvested paddy, while the rest are yet to receive even one token.
Meanwhile, Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra held a meeting Sunday on the issues that the farmers were facing. “We will issue tokens to all registered farmers to procure paddy.
We procure paddy at 17 quintals per acre in non-irrigated land and 19 quintals per acre in irrigated areas,” he said.
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