Baleswar BJD MP Rabindra Kumar Jena on Wednesday demanded that the deadline for groundnut procurement be extended for the Baliapal area in Baleswar district in view of delay in harvest.
Jena made this demand in the lok Sabha, saying thousands of farmers of Baleswar, particularly in Baliapal block, could not sell their groundnuts to the NAFED as harvesting was delayed due to rains, general elections and intermittent cyclones.
Farmers are now waiting to sell thousands of quintals of groundnuts. They could not sell the same by June 30, which was the deadline for paddy procurement. The market price of groundnuts is now below the society rate. If they sell in the market they would incur heavy loss. He demanded that the procurement period be extended by 10 days now.
Speaking on the issue of the National Institute of Design Bill 2014, Jena said he and his party (BJD) supports the bill as the proposed institute be centre of excellence in manufacturing sector. “Since Odisha is thriving in manufacturing sector I sincerely suggest that a branch of the institute be set up in Odisha,” he said.