Farmers protest over token issue for paddy procurement in Odisha's Bargarh

Farmers in Bhubaneswarpur Gram Panchayat under Jharbandh block of Odisha 's Bargarh district have expressed strong resentment over the non-issuance of tokens for the procurement of paddy cultivated on Aat-category land. The protest reportedly intensified at the Bhubaneswarpur Panchayat office, where farmers allegedly detained employees of the Dabha Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS), demanding an immediate resolution to the issue. According to the farmers, nearly 70 percent of the agricultural land in the panchayat falls under the Aat category. Despite this, farmers have worked hard to make the land suitable for paddy cultivation and have been regularly cultivating crops on it through their own efforts. Also Read: Farmer holds poison bottle during Bargarh protest over pending paddy procurement token However, complications at the government level have reportedly emerged regarding the procurement of paddy produced on such land. Farmers claim that they are facing difficulties in obtaining procurement tokens, raising concerns about how they will sell their harvested paddy through the official procurement system. Demanding a solution to the problem, the farmers gathered at the panchayat office and created tension over the issue. They have reportedly refused to release the detained Dabha PACS employees until the token-related problem is resolved. The protesting farmers have urged the authorities to intervene immediately and ensure that eligible farmers receive procurement tokens for their paddy.