Members of the Kissan-Khet Mazdoor Congress on Thursday urged Governor Dr SC Jamir to direct the State Government to procure all balance paddy from farmers on prompt payments. A team led by State Congress Farmers’ Cell president Amiya Kumar Patnaik submitted a 9-point charter of demands to Dr Jamir and discussed paddy procurement-related issues with him.
The demands included prompt payments to farmers through cheques, procurement of all balance paddy at MSPs, increase of procurement period to six months, formation of special paddy purchase squads in each district, payment of transportation cost to farmers, provision of adequate infrastructure at market yards and increase of MSP to Rs 2,500. Among others, Brundaban Khatei, Nimein Routaray and Pitambar Behera were present.