Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: Farmers, known as Annadata or food givers, are found to be a neglected lot in Odisha. Massive irregularities in paddy procurement have come to the fore. Dalals have fraudulently registered their names as farmers showing fake cultivable plots to sell paddy in Mandis at MSP set by the Central government.

The irregularities have come to the fore after a satellite survey conducted on registered plots recently. Based on farmers' registration, a satellite survey was conducted on 52,445 plots which were shown to be cultivable lands by registered farmers.

However, it was seen cultivation was done only on 3,270 plots. This means cultivation has not been done on 49,175 plots.

"The survey indicates that massive irregularities have occurred in the registration of plots and Dalals have done this to sell paddy, procured by them from real farmers at throwaya prices, at government mandis.

While the survey has been conducted only on 46% of the suspicious 1,13,615 plots in 1860 villages spread over 15 tehsils in the district.

Ironically, plots of water sources like village ponds have been registered as cultivation patches.

Meanwhile, many farmers have expressed unhappiness as they have failed to sell paddy at Mandis.

"We receive tokens to sell paddy at Mandis. However, we are not allocated dates. We go to mandis every day but fail to sell the paddy. Finally, we sell paddy to local traders at throw-away prices. We fail to repay society and bank loans we incur for taking up cultivation work," said a farmer.

Another farmer said 'Katni Chhatni' is a major problem being faced by farmers. "There is a bonhomie between Dalals and Food Supplies officials. While farmers fail to sell paddy at a minimum support price of Rs 2,183 per quintal of paddy, Dalals are getting benefits. The economic backbone of many farmers has broken due to the distressed sale of paddy," he said.

Irregularities in paddy procurement have been opposed by the opposition parties.

"Tokens are issued but paddy is not being procured from farmers. But millers purchase paddy from farmers. As this is an election year, the ruling BJD has a nexus with millers to accumulate funds to meet election spending," alleged senior BJP leader Pradip Purohit.

In view of the irregularities, it is now to be seen what steps the State government is taking to ensure full paddy procurement from the real farmers at MSP of Rs 2183 set by the Narendra Modi government.

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