In protest against the centralised token system for paddy procurement, farmers observed a bandh in Attabira of Bargarh district on Wednesday.
Government offices and shops and other business establishments remained closed in view of the bandh call.
Notably, a meeting held on Tuesday between representa tives of the agitating farmers and the district administration officials was inconclusive. The farmers had then decided to intensify the agitation.
They had also locked up the office of Civil Supplies Department in the district and b urnt an effigy of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain.
Revocation of the token system and resumption of the Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) are the demands of the farmers. They allege that the introduction of the centralised token system has led to delay in paddy procurement. As per the system, tokens would be issued 15 days prior to procurement of paddy and sent to the registered mobile numbers of farmers for selling paddy at the Mandis (market yards).