UMERKOTE: Alleging distress sale of paddy and maize, farmers of Nabarangpur have decided to launch an indefinite ‘chakka jam’ (strike) in four blocks of the district from Monday.
The farmers said they would hold the ‘chakka jam’ protest in Umerkote, Jharigaon, Raighar and Chandahandi blocks from Monday. If their issues are still not addressed, they will observe a bandh across the district on December 29.
BJD leader and former MP Pradeep Majhi alleged irregularities in paddy procurement centres (mandis) and accused both the district administration and the state government of apathy towards farmers’ problems. He said the administration has turned a deaf ear to the problems of farmers, thereby forcing them to the brink of agitation.
Majhi said farmers would stage road blockades by placing paddy and maize to draw attention of the administration to their issues. Several farmer leaders from all the four blocks were present.