Jeypore farmers seek Krushak I-cards

JEYPORE: The farmers of the district have harvested paddy over 10,000 acres but the wait for Krushak I-Cards seems long. They are reluctant to sell their paddy anticipating low price in the absence of the card.The farmers had received the I-cards from Jeypore Regulated Market Committee (RMC) about two years back with the help of the Revenue Department. It fetched them good price for their paddy during both kharif and rabi seasons. They had sold over 10 lakh quintal of paddy to the District Civil Supplies Department and other paddy procurement agencies for minimum support price at mandis. The I-card was valid till last rabi season.However, things got worse during the last rabi season when the district administration received several complaints of manipulation in the I-cards during procurement. The administration scrapped all I-cards from August 15 in the region and assured the farmers to allot new I-cards by September.  However, the farmers are yet to receive their cards and it has put a big question mark on the marketing of the ensuing kharif crop. District official sources clarified that the new cards will be provided only after paddy procurement begins in the tribal areas. Meanwhile, leaders of 94 pani panchayats comprising over 1 lakh farmers have demanded early distribution of the I-cards.