Despite Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister’s assurances, Government agencies are not purchasing paddy from farmers in Ganjam district and, thus, they have been forced to go for distress sale and have suffered crore of rupees, alleged the Odisha Chashi Suraksha Abhiyan on Friday.
Abhiyan convenor Rabi Ratha said as millers have not procured paddy, about 200 trucks of paddy are being transported to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Similarly, Rushikulya Rayat Mahasabha Seemanchal Nahak has alleged that while sharecroppers and small farmers have been selling paddy at much lower prices than the MSP through Dalals, Supplies and Cooperation Department have remained mute spectators only.
About 3.54 lakh farmers had undertaken paddy cultivation in a total of 2.15 hacteres of land. As of now, only 1.57 lakh farmers have registered names to sell paddy at Mandis, informed Ratha and Nahak in a joint statement.
“While famers have lost paddy in over one lakh hectares of land due to incessant rains and pest attacks, massive irregularities in sale of paddy have added to their woes only,” they said.
They demanded that Government reconsider its decision of providing compensation to farmers losing 33 per cent crops and procure all paddy harvested by farmers. They have also demanded to open Mandis in all villages and procure paddy from all farmers, including sharecroppers.