TNI Bureau: Kishan Cell President of OPCC Amiya Mohanty today held a press-meet at Bhubaneswar addressing the issue of distress sale of paddy by the farmers across the state.
In his address, he said, due to friendly weather, the paddy production is expected to harvest 95 lakh matric tone but sadly the government is decided to purchase only 30 lakh matric tone of paddy from the farmers.
Criticizing the state government for failing to open mandis in all districts, Mr. Mohanty said the farmers are being forced to sell their produce at a throwaway price to the Mill owner.
“While the minimum support price of paddy was fixed at Rs 1250 per quintal, farmers are forced to sell at Rs 800 per quintal,” he added.
His demands are as follows:
- To provide Rs 300 as bonus per quintal of paddy
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- To bear the transport charges of the farmers from their paddy field to Mandis
- To supply of paddy bags at free of cost
- To issue identity cards to all the farmers
- To establish monitoring committee at the Block level.
Meanwhile, farmers in 11 districts of western Odisha on Wednesday observed a bandh on their 15-point charter of demands including Rs 300 bonus on each quintal of paddy.
Citing his unhappy over the Government’s response to the agriculture sector, he said, state government is responsible for the plight of farmers.
Finally he threatened, if the government doesn’t take any necessary steps for the benefit of the farmers, the congress will launch a state-wide agitation.