Post News Network
Hatadihi, Jan 9: A paucity of funds in paddy procurement has left staff of cooperative societies and farmers distressed in 31 panchayats under Hatadihi block of Keonjhar district. Besides, the government has not provided required amount of funds to meet the procurement target.
Farmers are of the view that district collector N Tirumala Nayak pay urgent heed to the problem which they say is set to worsen.
According to reports, the block has 8 cooperative banks while they have started procuring paddy at 9 procurement centres at a rate of Rs 1410 per quintal. But it is said that the amount of funds provided by the government to cooperative societies is not enough to meet the target in the primary phase.
Now, provision of inadequate funds has created uncertainty in carrying forward the paddy procurement. While the cooperative society staff feel they have nothing left to do, farmers will face distress sale of paddy if procurement is done in a haphazard manner.
In the current year, Danra cooperative society has been asked to procure 22,000 quintals of paddy in the primary phase, but only Rs 15 lakh has been provided. Sources said the funds have been utilised for paddy procurement while the society staff await further release of funds. The society is now unable to procure paddy from farmers.
Locals alleged traders from other states become active and started purchasing paddy from farmers at low prices.
As for the funds crunch, president of Danra cooperative society Ranjan Pahi and secretary Umamant Nayak admitted the fact that funds were not provided in accordance with the target. “We have procured paddy with whatever funds we had received. We are now worried about how to carry on the paddy procurement as we have no money with us. If funds are not made available, we will face the farmers’ fury,” they said.
Manger of Hatadihi cooperative bank Harihar Panda said that funds will be made available in a phased manner.
