Farmers Allege Procurement Irregularities; Stage Protest In Two Odisha Districts

Sambalpur/Malkangiri: Irregularities in paddy procurement and registration of ghost farmers in the procurement process have been reported in two districts of Malkangiri and Sambalpur on Tuesday.

In Sambalpur several farmers alleged that the supply department officials are illegally registering several ghost farmers leading to irregularities. This has not only delayed the procurement process but also affected the peasants badly, said a farmer.

As per sources, State BJP President Samir Mohanty is scheduled to visit different mandis of the district on the day to take stock of the situation.

In Malkangiri, hundreds of farmers at MV-72 mandi alleged that middlemen had prepared forged documents in the name of farmers and are utilising those to register for procurement process.

As per the allegations, after registering themselves as farmers they are getting identity cards from Cooperative Societies. They have sought the intervention of district administration and State Government into the matter.

The middlemen purchase paddy from farmers at cheaper rates and selling them to cooperative societies through fake identity cards at a higher price. They have threatened to intensify their agitation if the issue was not addressed immediately.