Former State BJP president Suresh Pujari has expressed concern over exploitation of farmers by the rice millers while the district administration stands as mute spectator.
In a press release issued after a delegation of the BJP led by him visited market yards at Padiabahal, Sersuantal and Themra and interacted with farmers on Thursday, Pujari said the farmers have to wait for long hours in front of millers for lifting their paddy lying in market yards.
Questioning deduction of paddy quantity by millers citing foreign bodies and moisture, he wondered when moisture is tested at market yards how it is again done at mills.
Informing that there is still a lot of paddy to be procured, he urged the administration to keep the market yards open for some more time and save farmers from exploitation.
He accused millers of harassing farmers and said as per the norms, the millers have to directly procure paddy from market yards but they are asking the farmers to do it.
Expressing surprise over silence of the Food and Civil Supply officials, Pujari appealed to them to take steps to prevent harassment of the farmers in next procurement season.