Veteran politician and former MLA Arun Dey on Friday said farmers are facing distress sale of paddy as their produce is not procured by the department. They have been waiting for months to sell their produce. As a result, their produce is staked under open sky and may be damaged if weather becomes hostile.
Under the prevailing circumstances, the aggrieved farmers might resort to agitations, he feared.
Dey claimed that paddy from as many as over 60 per cent farmers have not been procured in Baleswar district. Against the target of 72 lakh-quintal lifting target, so far only about 13 lakh quintals has been procured.
“Over 78,000 farmers have registered their names with the societies; yet only nearly 33,000 farmers could dispose of their produce till date. The situation is very grim as they are not able to sell despite obtaining tokens. They are forced to resort to distress sale against MSP Rs 1,850 per quintal because they are in need of cash.”
He said the situation has arisen as the Centre didn’t disburse about Rs 7,500 crore on account of last Kharif procurement by the State coupled with the Centre’s demand to procure only fine (Arua) rice instead of coarse (Usuna) rice.
All Members of Parliament, irrespective of their party lines, should raise the issue in Parliament and take up the matter with the Centre. “We have two Union Ministers from our State. At least, they should try sincerely to resolve the crisis,” Dey said.
Ranjan Baug and BP Mohanty were among others at Dey’s Press conference.