Hundreds of Paddy Bags Left Exposed at Karlakot Procurement Centre; Farmers Anxious as Rains Threaten Crop

Boden, June 26 A disturbing picture of mismanagement has emerged from the Karlakot Paddy Procurement Centre under Boden Block in Nuapada district. Due to delays in the government paddy procurement process, hundreds of bags of paddy have been lying unattended in the mandi premises for several days. The situation has worsened as transport vehicles have reportedly not arrived to lift the procured paddy. Continuous rainfall over the past few days has left many paddy bags exposed under the open sky, with several already getting wet. Farmers fear that a portion of their produce may soon be damaged. To protect the harvest earned through months of hard work, many farmers are spending day and night guarding their paddy at the procurement centre, worried that their efforts may be washed away by the rains. The crisis has been aggravated by inadequate storage facilities at the mandi. With the available warehouse space already full, a large quantity of paddy has been stacked in the open, leaving it vulnerable to rain and moisture. As the weather remains uncertain, farmers’ anxiety continues to grow. According to the farmers, the primary reason for the delay is the non-availability of transport vehicles to move the procured paddy. They allege that despite repeatedly bringing the issue to the notice of the authorities, no permanent solution has been provided, leading to growing frustration among the farming community. The issue has gained added significance in the wake of the recent farmer suicide in the district, reportedly linked to paddy procurement-related problems. The situation at Karlakot Mandi has once again raised serious questions about the efficiency of the procurement system. Farmers have demanded immediate deployment of transport vehicles, adequate storage arrangements, and prompt corrective measures to prevent further losses. The pressing question now is whether the administration will act before another tragedy occurs, or only after another farmer is pushed to the brink.