15 Dec 2025
Bargarh (Odisha): Paddy procurement operations in Odisha’s Bargarh district resumed on Wednesday following several days of disruption, after intensive consultations among district officials, rice millers, and farmer representatives helped break the impasse.
Procurement under the Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) restarted with the lifting of 724.79 quintals of paddy from mandis at Tora, Kalapani, Godabhaga, Gudesira, and Atabira. Of the total quantity, 265 quintals were lifted from Kalapani mandi and 94 quintals from Godabhaga mandi. The resumption of operations was formally inaugurated by the Sub-Collector through the customary coconut-breaking ceremony.
Although mandis across the district had opened on November 28, procurement had remained stalled, leading to growing discontent among farmers. The delay was attributed to unresolved issues between rice millers and the administration, as well as farmer concerns related to procurement management and token distribution.
To address the situation, the Joint Farmers’ Organisation convened a meeting at Kalapani mandi on Tuesday. Senior district officials, including the Sub-Collector and the Cooperative Officer, held detailed discussions with farmers to resolve outstanding grievances. Following written assurances from the administration on key demands, paddy lifting resumed, effectively ending the deadlock.
Administration Responds to Farmers’ Concerns
Bargarh Sub-Collector Prasanna Pande said the issues raised by farmers broadly fell into two categories—local concerns and State-level policy matters. He assured farmers that State-level issues would be taken up with the government through the District Collector.
He further stated that the administration had provided a written commitment to ensure the lifting of paddy within 48 hours to address local concerns. In addition, quality checks would now be conducted exclusively by PACS and RMC members, a step aimed at improving transparency and fairness in the procurement process.
Farmers Cautiously Optimistic
Farmer representative Ramesh Mohapatra said the community had placed five key demands before the administration. He noted that officials, including the Sub-Collector and the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS), assured farmers of prompt action on issues within their jurisdiction and agreed to forward the remaining demands to higher authorities.
Mohapatra added that the P-PAS system would be implemented in line with last year’s procedures. While farmers expressed their readiness to cooperate with the procurement process, they cautioned that protests would resume if commitments are not honoured or if procedural lapses recur.