DHENKANAL: Resentment is brewing among the farmers over a delay in the opening of procurement centres for various crops in the district. Only two mandis were set up in the district on June 18, while the Markfed is yet to lift the procured produces like groundnut, black gram, and green gram.
As per reports, the district administration had targeted to procure 8,677 quintals of groundnut, 961 quintals of green gram and 5,538 quintals of black gram from 940 registered farmers. Accordingly, the minimum support prices (MSP) for the crops were fixed at `4,450 per quintal for groundnut, `5,575 for green gram and `5,400 for black gram. However, Markfed has procured only 99.6 quintals of groundnut from Karmul mandi and 108 quintals from Kankadapal.
Sources said due to the absence of godown, the Markfed is yet to lift the procured produces from the centres. Protesting over the issue, hundreds of farmers recently staged a dharna in front of Nayabhagirathipur cooperative society and later blocked the NH.
Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Society Kishore Chandra Singh said while the Markfed is focusing on quality of the produce, farmers have harvested groundnut having 50-60 gram weight against 100 gram.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Chhabindra Behera said the Markfed needs to start the procurement in the district soon as moisture may affect the produces.