Paddy in the Mandi, Tokens in Hand: Procurement Yet to Begin; Farmers Warn of Agitation

Sinapali, June 17 Farmers, hoping to sell the fruits of their year-long hard work at a fair price, have brought their paddy to the procurement centre. However, despite possessing valid government-issued tokens, the procurement process has not yet begun, pushing farmers’ frustration in the Sinapali mandi to a boiling point. Days of uncertainty, prolonged waiting, and administrative inefficiency have left farmers deeply worried about the fate of their produce. At the paddy procurement centre located in Sinapali block headquarters of Nuapada district, not a single farmer’s paddy has been procured even though the mandi has already opened. Farmers who deposited their paddy as per the allotted token schedule have been waiting for several days, but the procurement process remains stalled. As a result, disappointment and resentment among farmers continue to grow. According to the farmers, the crisis has been aggravated by a lack of coordination in mandi management and the indifferent attitude of concerned officials. Although large quantities of paddy are lying ready for procurement, delays caused by the absence of millers and the slow pace of official procedures have put farmers in distress. Repeated appeals to the Supply Department and PACS authorities have reportedly yielded nothing more than assurances to “wait patiently.” Meanwhile, anxiety among farmers has intensified as the validity period of their procurement tokens is nearing expiry. Paddy heaps lying in the open are vulnerable to rain and other natural factors, raising fears of significant losses. Farmers also alleged that the mandi operates irregularly, opening on some days and remaining closed on others, exposing serious gaps in administrative coordination. Seeking an immediate and permanent solution, farmers from across the Sinapali region united and submitted a memorandum to the local Tahsildar. After hearing their grievances, the Tahsildar acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and assured them that discussions would be held with millers at the earliest to facilitate immediate lifting and procurement of paddy from the mandi. However, farmers remain unconvinced by the assurances. Farmer leaders Pramod Kumar Joshi and Giten Meher warned that if paddy lifting does not begin by tomorrow and the cooperative society authorities fail to act promptly, farmers will be compelled to launch a large-scale protest by blocking the highway in front of the mandi. Farmers emphasized that the delay in procurement is not merely an economic issue but a matter directly linked to their livelihood and survival. They cautioned that unless the administration intervenes immediately and resolves the crisis, the situation could escalate further in the coming days. The growing unrest at the Sinapali mandi has once again highlighted the urgent need for efficient coordination among procurement agencies, millers, and administrative authorities to ensure that farmers receive timely support and the rightful value for their hard-earned produce.