Farmers of Gajapati district have alleged that they are forced to sell paddy at a cheap price to Andhra Pradesh following a bumper harvest.
They alleged that for a long time they were demanding the district administration to increase the procurement target from 15,000 MT to 30,000 MT. But the administration turned a deaf ear to their plea.
Gajapati District Farmer and Agriculture Association president Surjya Narayan Patnaik and farmers Adala Ramulu and Kuna Sahu alleged that last year though there was drought in Gajapati, the district administration had set a target to sell 20,000 MT paddy.
This year due to good rainfall there was good rice cultivation in the district. However, compared to last year the district administration has issued orders to sell only 15,000 MT rice.
The remaining paddy is being sold to Andhra Pradesh at the price of Rs1,300 for one tonne paddy, while the price fixed by the district administration at Rs1,470 per tonne.
Because of this, the farmers are incurring huge losses. The balance paddy is still with the farmers and they are forced to dispose it off at a low price. So, they have demanded the district administration to extend the date of paddy procurement and enhance the target.
