TNI Bureau: A distressing incident from Odisha’s Bargarh district has highlighted the hardships faced by farmers due to delays in paddy procurement. A farmer from Kushanpuri village under Bheden block staged an unusual protest by placing sacks of paddy in front of a Tata Power electricity office after failing to pay his power bill.

The farmer, Ramesh Patra, owns about four acres of farmland, while another four acres are cultivated in his sister’s name. Although he has harvested paddy, he has not yet received the procurement token required to sell his produce at government mandis. Without the token, he has been unable to sell his paddy and arrange money for urgent expenses.

According to local sources, the power distribution company Tata Power issued a notice asking him to clear electricity dues of ₹8,000 by February 25. With no cash in hand and no way to sell his crop, Patra brought paddy sacks worth about ₹8,000 and placed them in front of the Tata Power office as a symbolic payment.

Although procurement centres have opened, many farmers are still waiting for tokens to sell their paddy. As a result, thousands of paddy bags remain stacked under the open sky, exposing farmers to financial stress and crop damage risks.

The incident reflects the growing frustration among farmers in western Odisha, where delays in token issuance and procurement are preventing cultivators from accessing timely payments.

The farmer’s symbolic protest has drawn attention to the urgent need for smoother procurement and greater sensitivity toward farmers facing immediate financial pressures.