Token Delay Pushes Koraput Farmers into Distress, Paddy Procurement System Under Scanner

Koraput | Jan 5, 2026 - Koraput district’s paddy farmers are facing severe hardship due to an inordinate delay in the issuance of sale tokens for Kharif paddy procurement, with only around 40 per cent of registered farmers receiving tokens so far. The delay has disrupted the procurement process and left thousands of cultivators anxious about selling their produce.

The paddy procurement season officially began on December 11 at the Borigumma RMC mandi. Currently, nearly 80 mandis are fully functional across the Jeypore and Koraput subdivisions. This year, a total of 44,107 farmers have registered through 20 Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS) in the district to sell their paddy. However, the majority of them are still waiting for sale tokens, forcing farmers to make repeated visits to cooperative offices and mandis in the hope of getting clarity.

With harvested paddy lying unsold, farmers are compelled to guard their stocks round-the-clock to prevent damage or theft, even as temperatures dip during winter nights. Many fear that further delay could affect their preparation for the upcoming rabi cultivation season.

Expressing concern, Koraput Krushak Kalyan Manch leader Narendra Pradhan urged the administration to intervene immediately. “The authorities should urgently review the token issuance process and ensure that all registered farmers receive tokens well in time, so they can sell their produce without distress before the rabi season begins,” he said.

Officials, however, admit limitations at the district level. A senior official from the deputy registrar of cooperative societies stated that there is no district-level mechanism within the Civil Supplies and Consumer Welfare department or the deputy registrar’s office to track or issue tokens. “The entire token process is handled at the state level. We can only ensure smooth procurement at mandis once farmers receive their tokens,” the official said.

The situation has raised serious questions about coordination and transparency in the paddy procurement system, with farmers demanding swift corrective measures.