Farmers’ Anger Erupts Over Paddy Procurement Delay: Highway Blockade and Suicide Attempt During Minister’s Visit

Nuapada, 17/06 Growing resentment among farmers over delays in paddy procurement, non-lifting of harvested paddy from mandis, and fertilizer shortages reached a boiling point in Nuapada district on Tuesday. During the visit of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, farmers voiced their grievances in a strong and organized protest. The situation turned dramatic when a farmer allegedly attempted suicide during the agitation, triggering widespread concern across the district. Hundreds of farmers from 21 villages under eight PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies) in Nuapada Sadar Block staged a demonstration in front of the District Collector’s office, alleging serious irregularities in the ongoing Rabi paddy procurement process. Farmers claimed that many had not yet received procurement tokens, while those who had received tokens were still waiting for their paddy to be lifted from the mandis. They also alleged deductions of 5 to 7 kilograms per quintal during procurement. Initially, Sub-Collector Surmi Soren attempted to pacify the protesters through discussions. However, the farmers insisted on meeting either the District Collector or the visiting minister directly. As hours passed without the arrival of senior officials, frustration among the protesters intensified. The agitation escalated when farmers blocked National Highway-353, disrupting traffic and affecting normal public movement for several hours. Under the scorching summer heat, the farmers sat on the highway, expressing their anguish over what they described as official apathy toward their plight. Meanwhile, a government meeting was underway at the district Sadbhavana Hall. Alleging that their concerns were being ignored, a farmer reportedly attempted suicide by tying a towel around his neck in the presence of officials. Police and administrative personnel intervened immediately, preventing any untoward incident and restoring calm. The episode highlighted the severity of the farmers’ distress and the growing desperation among the agricultural community. After nearly three hours, Minister Rabi Narayan Naik invited a delegation of farmers for discussions. The farmers pointed out that with the Kharif cultivation season beginning from June 16, the delay in paddy procurement had left them without the financial resources needed to prepare for the next crop cycle. “How can we invest in cultivation when our paddy has not been sold and payments have not been received?” the farmers questioned during the meeting. Later, District Collector Madhusudan Das, along with senior officials, joined the minister at the protest site and held direct discussions with the agitating farmers. The minister assured them that paddy lifting operations would be expedited from Wednesday onward across all mandis in the district. He further announced that a district-level officer would be stationed at each mandi to monitor the process and ensure smooth procurement. Strict action, he said, would be taken against any miller found delaying paddy lifting. Following these assurances, the farmers withdrew their protest at around 2 p.m. However, farmer leaders warned that if the paddy of all registered farmers is not lifted within the next five days, they would launch a more intense agitation. Responding to media queries, Minister Rabi Narayan Naik stated, “The government remains fully committed to addressing farmers’ issues. Ours is a farmers’ government, and we will continue to work for their welfare and protect their interests.” The agitation in Nuapada has once again brought the challenges of paddy procurement to the forefront, raising serious questions about ground-level implementation of procurement policies. Attention is now focused on how swiftly the administration delivers on its promises and restores confidence among the farming community.