Raising demand to extend the last day of procurement, farmers staged protests at several places across the state on the last day of paddy procurement at minimum support price.
Road blockade was also done by farmers at Chhirha in Bemetara and in Kondagaon districts as well.
Notable, even on Wednesday farmers resorted to chakka jam at places like Bemetara, Marwahi, Kawardha, Kanker, Kondagaon and Surajpur. Upset over ‘non-procurement’ of their paddy they also set ablaze their crop at Surajpur to mark their protest.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister, in a statement, claimed that the demonstrations of farmers were sponsored and were instigated by opposition BJP. The minister also denied the allegation of cane charge on farmers and said the administration tried to pacify the agitated farmers and that the allegation of cane charge was not true.
Regarding balance difference amount of Rs2500 from that of the paddy support price, the minister said a budgetary provision of Rs5000 crore had been made.
A policy decision had been taken by the cabinet subcommittee regarding it and soon after arrival of the Chief Minister from his foreign tour the scheme would be given a name, he added.