Paralakhemundi, Once again Andhra continued its elder brother attitude on Odisha now eyeing on farmers,after mines,water,road,land of Gajapati district.Despite efforts by Gajapati administration not to allow transportation of paddy out of district,the transportation to Andhra continued.Gajapati administration claimed to have fixed CCTV cameras at nakka ;points at boarders,besides directed officials to keep a strict vigil on paddy transportation to Andhra.But,under the very nose of administration,Andhra traders not only purchase paddy from Gajapati district,also issuing them Andhra tokens,as a result of which the trucks carrying paddy from Gajapati unabatedly.A good quantity of harvested paddy in the district still wet and discoloured.But the Andhra traders are purchasing randomnly,no doubt at a much lesser price than the MSP fixed by Odisha govt.This year the Odisha govt fixed the price at Rs 3100/-per quiantal of paddy which meets FAQ standard.On the otherhand the Andhra traders pays Rs 1100 to Rs 1900-per quintal depending on the condition of the paddy.Despite the low price the farmers eagerly sell their paddy to Adhra,as though less price,but for immediate payment.Girish nayak of kerandi village said,he owns 2 acres of land and all his harvested paddy got wet and discoloured.He sold his paddy to Andhra,as he needs money to meet the expanses of Makar sankranti festival.Nodoubt the price is cheaper,but I received the money once it reached Andhra mills,said Nayak.He said the Gajapati administration announced to open mandi from Decemebr 30th,but extended it to 7/1/2025.Even till date not assured wheter they will purchase the discoloured paddy or not.If I will not sell to Andhra and keeps my paddy,is there any gurantee that Gajapati administration will purchase ?Similarly Dushmant nayak,who got a token of Andhra said,when Gajapati administration so far not provided token to its farmers and also not opened its mandi,why I will wait for uncertainity.Moreover,so far neighter the govt declared to receive the discoloured paddy nor the district administration assured us.Moreover,the farmers who sell their paddy previously to Mandis in Gajapati,used to run several times for the price,whereas without any hesitation Andhra purchases our paddy randomnly.In such a situation why I will not sell to Andhra,he questioned.Surya patnaik,Gajapati zilla krushak sangha president said,this year over 50 % paddy crop in the district damaged due to unseasonal rain.The district administration so far not assured the farmers about relaxation of FAQ norms.Obviously the farmers will opt for distress sale.He said the Chief minister Mohin majhi himself visited the damaged farmlands and assured for assistance,but not uttered a word about relaxation of FAQ norms.Meanwhile the assessment not completed and till the completion the farmers cannot sell their paddy.As the makar festival is ahead and also to repay the loans,the farmers bound to go for distress sale.Surprisingly the Gajapati chief civil supply officer prafulla behera took a lame excuse.He said we publlicised the assistance for the crop loss extensively and even catagorically made the farmers about the enhenced price of Rs 3100/-per quintal.In such a situation the selling of paddy to Andhra by Gajapati farmers are most unfortunate and their foolishness.He further said we cannot force the farmers not to sale their paddy as the paddy sold to Andhra are their surplus.He however expressed his ignorance over the procurement of paddy from Gajapati by issuing their (andhra)token.The CSO said,we have issued tokens to our farmers and the procurement will start from tomorrow and we are hopefull to achive our procurement target of 5.85 lakh quintal.The irony is that,this year there is a bumper crop in the district,but sustained a huge loss due to rain.Now every day trucks of Andhra lifting paddy from gajapati in a large scale on the virtue of token issued by them with clearcut instructions where to sell the paddy.
