Jharsuguda: The paddy procurement process was marred by controversy on the first day of opening of mandis at Jharsuguda district on Friday.
Though a ‘seva samiti’ has been set up by the Regulated Market Committee (RMC) and civil supplies department at Laikera, resentment brewed among farmers over procurement through ‘katni chhatni’ (selection of paddy citing its quality).
While the farmers alleged that bulk of the paddy stock is not being accepted by the millers stating that it doesn’t comply with fair average quality (FAQ) norms, the millers allegedly refused to procure paddy without ‘katni chhatni’.
Following the disagreement between the farmers and the millers, several quintals of paddy stock are now lying unattended at the yard.
“This year, we have a good crop but the millers want to lift paddy only after katni chhatni,” said Arjun Meher, a farmer.
It is pertinent to mention here that farmers had in past alleged nexus between millers and government officials, and urged the State government to stop the practice of ‘katni chhatni’
