KalingaTV News Network
Nabarangpur: Demanding purchase of maize by Mandis in the district at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) decided by the government hundreds of farmers took to the streets and observed a 12-hour bandh.
As a symbolic protest the agitating farmers spilled tonnes of corns on the road at Bhandara Gharani Square and resorted to sloganeering against the district administration. They also staged road blockades at different places in the Nabarangpur town protesting the alleged apathy by the district collector towards their demand.
Several farmers’ body in the district gave the bandh call today after a number of Mandis denied to purchase maize at the decided MSP of Rs 1,425 per quintal recently. Citing the decline in maize price at the international market the Mandis kept the MSP at Rs 1,100 arbitrarily.
While all business establishments remained closed during the bandh observation, vehicular traffic was brought to a grinding halt giving tough time to commuters in and around the district headquarter.
However, Nabarangpur Sub Collector Karunakar Raita has rubbished all allegations of the agitating farmers and said the district administration is careful to their interests.
“We had positive dialogue with the farmers whenever a need arose. The difference would be shorted out once the maize price at the international market goes up. Farmers have to wait at least a month for that”, maintained Raita.
Ms Kalinga