Odisha: Govt relents, agrees to buy grain from token-less farmers

Sambalpur: The stalemate over the paddy procurement in Sambalpur and Bargarh districts came to an end after a decision was taken to procure paddy of even those farmers who come to the market yard without the centralised token.

According to the decision, token will be generated for those farmers who have not received the centralised token at the market yard after they come to the yard with their paddy.

The decision was taken after farmers blocked the NH-53 (Mumbai-Kolkata) at Baraipali in Sambalpur district and at Godbhaga in Bargarh district, demanding withdrawal of the centralised token system, generated from Bhubaneswar. While farmers began the road blockade at Godbhaga at 9am by placing paddy bags on the road, farmers of Sambalpur district began the road blockade at 1pm by keeping the paddy-laden vehicles on the road at Baraipali. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on either side of the roads because of the farmers’ agitation.

Under the centralised token system, the token will be sent to the registered mobile number of the farmer. The date of selling of the paddy and quantity of paddy the farmer could sell will be mentioned in the token.

According to agitating farmers, harvesting season and yield rate are different in different areas in the state. “There could not be a single procurement policy for the entire state. The western part of the state is command area of the Hirakud dam. Paddy production is more in this area,” said a farmer leader.

“Moreover, farmers in western Odisha immediately go for rabi paddy crop in January after selling of the kharif paddy. And if the farmers fail to sell their paddy by the end of December, they will have to face difficulties for rabi crop and hence, the farmers has been opposing the centralised token,” he said.

The road blockade at Baraipali in Sambalpur was withdrawn at 4pm after rural development minister Susant Singh besides deputy chief whip of the government and Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari came to the spot and discussed with the agitating farmers.

Singh said, “The centralised token policy has been formulated for the entire state and hence it cannot be withdrawn. However, considering the demand of the farmers here, we have made some relaxation for the farmers of Hirakud command area.”

“A decision has been taken to make an arrangement to procure the paddy from even those farmers, who will come to the market yard without the centralised token. No farmer will be sent back from the market yard on the pretext of centralised token,” he said.

Adviser to Sambalpur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sangathan (SZKSS), Ashok Pradhan said, “The government has accepted majority of our demands. The government had capped sale of paddy per day for the farmers but the restriction was also withdrawn.”

Similarly, the road blockade at Godbhaga was withdrawn at 7pm after Singh, Bargarh MLA Debesh Acharya and officials from Bargarh district administration discussed with the farmers.

Farmer leader Birendra Kumar Kar said, “We withdrew the road blockade after they assured us that the paddy will be procured from all the farmers, who will come to the market yard.”