Farmers stage dharna over paddy procurement ‘delay’ in Bargarh

BARGARH: Protesting the delay in lifting of paddy from several mandis in Bargarh, farmers of different blocks staged dharna in front of the district collector’s office on Friday.

The agitators under the banner of Sanjukta Krushak Sangathan, alleged that lack of action against rice millers by the district administration has aggravated the situation.

The farmers said over six lakh bags of paddy are lying in the open at different mandis in Kumbhari, Tulandi and Agalpur of Barpali block, Bara of Ambabhona and Kubedega, Saharatikra, Tentulitikra in Bheden block. “Though farmers had brought best quality of paddy, their produce is now lying in the open due to lack of storage facilities at these mandis and delay in procurement due to autocracy of millers,” they alleged.