Meeting Held to Resolve Paddy Procurement Deadlock in Kubedega Market Yard

Meeting Held to Resolve Paddy Procurement Deadlock in Kubedega Market Yard

A crucial meeting was held at the Kubedega Market Yard under the Bheden block to address the ongoing deadlock in paddy procurement, which has caused growing concern among farmers from all villages under the respective panchayat. The meeting, chaired by Utapanna Kumar Bhoi, highlighted the paddy procurement issues since the government’s announcement on November 20 to lift paddy from the market yard.

Out of the targeted 7,800 quintals, only 1,622 quintals have been procured so far, leaving 6,177 quintals pending. Farmers expressed deep concern as many of their procurement tokens are set to expire by the 19th. The arbitrary behavior of millers has worsened the situation, while officials from the purchasing agencies like PACS and RMC appeared helpless.

With no other resolution in sight, farmers have decided to intensify their protest and warned of blockading the Bheden-Bargarh road near Kubedega Market Yard. It was unanimously resolved that a memorandum would be submitted to the District Collector through the local tehsildar. If procurement does not improve by tomorrow, indefinite protests will commence from the 18th.

The meeting saw active participation from numerous farmers, including Madhusudan Tripathy, Sukanta Satpathy, Janardhan Mishra, Subodh Satpathy, Achyuta Bhoi, Devendra Pradhan, Sushil Behera, Kshirodra Barik, Ajit Pradhan, Jayadev Pradhan, Atulya Bhoi, Kishore Pradhan, Prahallad Pradhan, Ashok Pradhan, Bikash Bhoi, Ujjwal Bhoi, Siddheshwar Pradhan, Naveen Bhoi, Pradeep Bhoi, Sukadev Bag, Akshay Pradhan, Ghanshyam Mahakur, Kshamanidhi Behera, Ashwini Satpathy, Bhito Sahu, Shankar Mahakur, Pramod Bishi, Santosh Bishi, and Nandighosh Mahakur. The participants collectively called for stronger agitation to resolve the crisis.