Paddy buying restarts in Sambalpur

Sambalpur: After days of deadlock marked by farmer protests and administrative wrangling, rabi paddy procurement finally resumed in Sambalpur district on Tuesday.

According to the district level paddy procurement committee decision on May 5, mandis were to open from May 15. However, procurement was stalled as farmers boycotted mandis over concerns regarding token availability and the newly introduced vehicle transport system (VTS), which they feared could delay payments at the minimum support price (MSP).

The impasse was resolved after a crucial meeting at the regulated market committee (RMC) yard in Bareipali, attended by officials of the food supplies department, public representatives across party lines, millers and farmer leaders.

Senior BJD leader and Rairakhol MLA Prasanna Acharya called for greater decentralisation of policies, arguing that decisions taken at the state- or central-level often fail to reflect ground realities.

Farmers also flagged inadequate storage infrastructure, slow lifting of rice by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and rising fuel prices as key concerns affecting procurement and farm economics.

Officials assured that the second phase of token distribution is underway and that the issue of third-phase tokens will be taken up with higher authorities. Chief district civil supplies officer Subodh Hota said, “Around 6,000 new tokens had been received by Monday and more would follow to ensure smooth procurement.”

The administration also promised to simplify the VTS mechanism to prevent harassment. Following these assurances, farmers agreed to call off their agitation and resume paddy sales.