FARMERS PROTESTED OVER LACK OF PADDY PROCUREMENT

FARMERS PROTESTED OVER LACK OF PADDY PROCUREMENT

28-DEC-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Farmers' anger reached a boiling point on Thursday in Bhojpur district due to the non-commencement of government paddy procurement. Farmers, who have been waiting for a long time for paddy procurement through PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), expressed their displeasure by burning paddy in their fields as a form of protest. This protest took place in Vaisadih village under Narayanpur Panchayat of Piro block, where farmers say that despite the harvest, the paddy is lying in the open and their financial situation is continuously deteriorating.

The protesting farmers alleged that the PACS chairman is deliberately not procuring their paddy, while paddy from outsiders is being purchased through middlemen. The farmers warned that if government paddy procurement does not begin within the next 10 days, they will protest by blocking the roads with paddy. This warning from the farmers has increased the concerns of the administration and local representatives.

Radha Mohan Upadhyay, an 87-year-old farmer from the village, said that in the village of about 2000 people, farming is done on 1200 acres. This year, approximately 8000 quintals of paddy have been produced, which is lying in the threshing grounds and rotting. He said that the government system seems to have completely failed and middlemen are dominating the market. The farmer said that the paddy has been harvested and kept for the last 15 days, but there are no buyers. Both traders and the PACS chairman are quoting a price of Rs. 1800 per quintal, which is leading to the exploitation of farmers.

Deputy head of the village, Nishant Kumar Upadhyay, alleged that the paddy of most farmers is not being procured. When complaints are made, the responsibility is being shifted from one person to another. He said that a written application has been given to the Piro Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), but no concrete action has been taken so far. The farmers have demanded an investigation into the PACS chairman and fair paddy procurement. Due to the lack of paddy procurement, entire families are on the verge of ruin. The farmers say that if a solution is not found in time, the movement will be intensified. Currently, the administration is reportedly trying to reassure farmers and control the situation, but dissatisfaction persists on the ground due to the failure to start procurement.