Jeypore, Dec, 20:Farmers have demanded the immediate opening of the Kharif market and that all their paddy be purchased by January. They are also demanding 100% issue of tokens to farmers and reimbursement of mandi handling charges. Today, farmers’ organization Krushak Kalyan Manch surrounded the Chief District Supply Officer with these demands. They have warned that if their demands are not met, they will block the state highway the next day. A memorandum regarding the demands was submitted to the District Collector.
This afternoon, farmers from the block gathered at the local Supply Department office, raising slogans for the immediate opening of the market. They surrounded Chief District Supply Officer Manas Mahapatra and questioned why the paddy had not been purchased yet, even though the market was scheduled to start on December 11.
Farmers stated that they had harvested paddy since October, and the money from loans provided by moneylenders had already been spent. They have been forced to sell paddy to traders at ₹1,700 per quintal. Even now, most farmers have not received tokens. Due to the delay in tokens, many are worried. They demand that tokens be issued immediately.
Millers and purchasing agencies are not handling the mandi operations. Farmers are bearing the cost of loading paddy onto millers’ trucks and handling in the mandi, yet they are not receiving their due. For years, millers and purchasing agencies have been collecting these charges. Farmers demand that mandi handling charges be reimbursed.
They also demand that on the day the paddy is purchased, it should be lifted from the mandi and farmers should be given vendor receipts simultaneously. Farmers should sell paddy in the mandi as per the tokens issued. The administration must take steps to ensure proper purchase of harvested paddy. Markets should be free from brokers, and excess paddy should not be taken from farmers under the pretext of FCI norms. Basic facilities should be provided to farmers in the mandi.
These demands were raised by Krushak Kalyan Manch Editor Narendra Kumar Pradhan, District Council Vice President Radhabinod Samksharay, BJP leaders Bipad Bhanjan Das, Sanjay Kumar Behera, Surendra Kumar Nayak, Pradeep Kumar Nayak, Gangadhar Panigrahi, Gopalakrishna Mandal, Yudhishthir Pujari, Sudarshan Mallik, A.P. Pradhan, and Tulu Mallik, among others.