March 5, 2010
BHAWANIPATNA: Resentment is brewing among the farmers for delay in paddy procurement by the district administration and the FCI.
In the last kharif season, paddy was being procured by the primary agriculture societies but the process was abruptly stopped by the district administration on January 15 last on the ground of regularising accounts of the societies. The farmers were then assured by the administration and the civil supply department that their paddy stock will be sold through the FCI. But so far, FCI has not lifted any paddy stock. At a purchasing centre of FCI at Narla, about 40,000 quintals of paddy are lying unsold and farmers are spending sleepless nights to protect their stock. The paddy stocks have been lying here since February 3. The affected farmers had also staged a road blockade protesting the district administration’s apathy on February 26.
Dharmu Pradhan, a farmer from Mandel village, alleged that there are no sheds at the procurement centre and the paddy stocks are lying exposed. He lamented that his 200 bags of paddy have already been damaged by rats, birds and ants. The situation at purchasing centres in other parts of the district is no different.
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