Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17 -- The Odisha government's decision to close the mandis
meant for paddy procurement two months before the scheduled time will lead to
distress sale and farmers suicide, Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik alleged.
In a statement here, Mr Patnaik said thousands of quintals of paddy is lying near
the mandis and the farmers who are requesting the government wit folded hands
to purchase their produce.
The state government had decided to procure 55 lakh tonnes of paddy in 2018-19
kharif season which starts in November and ends on April 30. But this year till date
around 50 lakh tonnes has been procured as per government source.
The government, the Congress chief said now decided to close the mandis by end
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