Even as the Odisha government claims that the Rabi paddy procurement process has been completed and mandis have officially closed, the ground reality paints a starkly different picture. Thousands of quintals of paddy remain exposed to incessant rain in several districts, leaving farmers worried as their harvested crop begins to sprout and deteriorate.

Farmers in Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh, Titlagarh, Padampur, and Junagarh allege that delays in lifting paddy from mandis have caused severe losses. In many places, paddy bags are lying in the open without adequate protection, soaking in rainwater due to the ongoing low-pressure-induced rainfall.

According to the government’s P-PAS dashboard, nearly 2.97 lakh quintals of procured paddy in Kalahandi district are yet to be lifted from mandis. While district officials maintain that procurement has been completed, farmers claim their produce continues to remain stranded.

Adding to their woes, several farmers have alleged that their procurement tokens lapsed because of delays involving Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), millers, and procurement agencies. In Junagarh block, more than 20 farmers reportedly missed the opportunity to sell their paddy after their tokens expired.

Similar complaints have emerged from Malamunda mandi in Balangir district, where farmers accused rice millers of deliberately slowing down the lifting process while allegedly bringing paddy from outside districts. They also claimed that deductions of 3 to 5 kilograms per quintal are being made in the name of quality checks, further reducing their earnings.

In Titlagarh, distressed farmers staged a protest outside the Sub-Collector’s office despite heavy rain, warning that they would be driven to extreme steps if their paddy was not procured.

The situation is equally alarming in Bargarh and Padampur, where thousands of farmers are still waiting to sell their produce despite the procurement deadline having ended. Farmer organisations have alleged irregularities in the procurement process and demanded immediate lifting of the remaining paddy, compensation for rain-damaged crops, and action against those responsible for the delays.

With the Kharif sowing season approaching, many farmers say they are now struggling to arrange money for seeds and fertilisers, making timely intervention crucial.