Bheden farmers dump paddy bags, block road over delay in procurement

PEEVED over the alleged delay in procurement of paddy from the Kubedega mandi in Bargarh's Bheden block, farmers of the area on Wednesday staged a roadblock by dumping their stock on the Bargarh-Bheden road as a mark of protest.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bargarh

As per sources, around 5,000 bags of paddy are currently stored at the Kubedega market-yard. However, protesting farmers, under the banner of Sanjukta Krushak Sangathan, alleged the stock is not being lifted in time due to the alleged autocracy of the rice millers.

Several farmers expressed concern over being exploited by middlemen once their tokens lapse. They alleged their paddy is being rejected on the basis of quality and weight. This apart, inadequate infrastructure at the marketyard along with winter moisture poses risk of deteriorating the quality of the paddy, they pointed out.