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Bilaspur News: Farmers have appealed to the Collector that Darsagar procurement center should be started immediately, the token limit should be increased and small farmers should be given priority. Farmers said that if the system is not improved soon, their crops may get damaged and this will increase their financial loss.
Bilaspur. The paddy procurement process has started in Chhattisgarh from November 15, but the farmers of Takhatpur and Kota areas of Bilaspur district are still facing chaos in the procurement centers. Tokens of small farmers are not being deducted, whereas farmers are upset due to non-start of procurement in new centres. Farmers were forced to reach the collector’s office on Monday and demanded extension of time period, increase in token limit and immediate start of procurement in new centres.
Harprasad Sahu, a farmer from village Khargena in Takhatpur area, told Local 18 that 15 days have passed since the start of paddy procurement but he has not yet received the token. He said that we are making rounds every day but it is said that the limit of 1000 quintals has been reached. By cutting just 2-2 tokens of big farmers, the limit is filled and small farmers are left roaming around worried. The paddy kept in homes is getting spoiled. Farmers demanded extension of time limit for procurement and increase in token limit.
Farmers of Kota area said that 6 gram panchayats and 15 villages come under Seva Cooperative Society Darsagar but till now procurement has not been started for them. Earlier he used to sell paddy in Belgahna Mandi, which is 10 to 15 kilometers away from his village.
Mental and financial problems on return
Other farmers said that Belgahna Mandi already includes 25 villages, where more than 1.25 lakh quintals of paddy is purchased. In such a situation, farmers coming from far away places not only face difficulty in getting the token but also face mental and financial trouble in weighing and returning till night.
Darsagar committee formed but procurement has not started yet
Farmers say that Darsagar Committee has now come into existence and as per the rules of the government, it is mandatory for every committee to have a paddy procurement center. Despite this, procurement has not yet been started at the center and tokens are also not being issued.
Farmers have requested the Collector that Darsagar procurement center should be started immediately, the token limit should be increased, and small farmers should be given priority. Farmers say that if the system is not improved soon, their crops may get damaged and economic losses will increase. The farmers who reached the Collector’s office clearly said that now they will not go to Belgahna Mandi to sell paddy under any circumstances. Farmers have demanded an early solution from the administration.
