Ragi farmers in Odisha’s tribal-dominated Rayagada district are facing mounting financial distress amid allegations of delayed procurement and non-payment for crops sold at mandis under the government-backed Shree Anna Abhiyan scheme.

Despite large-scale government promotion of ragi cultivation in the district, many farmers claim they are yet to receive payments for produce sold several months ago. The delay has reportedly left cultivators struggling to repay loans and manage household expenses ahead of the next farming season.

Farmers have alleged that technical issues related to the government portal and e-pass system have disrupted procurement and payment processes, triggering growing dissatisfaction across several parts of the district.

Farmers Await Dues Months After Selling Produce

In the Pitamahal area under Rayagada Sadar block, farmers are currently engaged in collecting, drying and processing freshly harvested ragi crops. Ragi continues to be a staple food in the district, prompting the government to encourage extensive cultivation through the Shree Anna Abhiyan programme.

Krishna Rao Huika, a farmer from Raikana village under Gumma panchayat, said he has been cultivating ragi on five acres of land for the past three years.

Although he sold around 15 quintals of ragi at the mandi this year, he alleged that payment is still pending.

“I cultivated ragi this year and sold the entire produce by the end of March. Since polished ragi was required, we arranged machines and processed it accordingly. However, the officials concerned are not lifting the stock, due to which we are facing difficulties. Had the process been completed on time, we would have received our payment by now,” he said.

The delay has reportedly forced several farmers to store large quantities of procured ragi inside their homes while waiting for official lifting and payment clearance.

Farmers Struggle to Repay Loans

Another farmer, Lachika Jakaka, alleged that ragi sold at the mandi by the 25th had still not been lifted by authorities.

He said many farmers had borrowed money for cultivation and are now facing pressure from lenders due to delayed payments.

Jagannath Nag also expressed concern over the worsening financial burden on cultivators.

“We had taken loans for ragi cultivation and now lenders are asking for repayment. Managing our family expenses and preparing for the next cultivation season has become difficult. Due to the delay by TDCC, we are facing these problems,” he said.

Farmers claim the prolonged delay has created uncertainty during a critical agricultural period when preparations for the next crop cycle are underway.

Ragi Cultivation Increased Due to Government Support

Government support and assured procurement prices had significantly increased interest in ragi cultivation in the district over the past few years.

Last year, around 980 farmers in Rayagada cultivated ragi across nearly 10,005 hectares of land. The procurement price for ragi has been fixed at Rs 4,886 per quintal, making the crop economically attractive for tribal farmers.

This year, the highest cultivation was reported in Kashipur block with around 1,665 hectares under ragi farming, followed by Bisamkatak, Chandrapur and Rayagada blocks.

Procurement Being Conducted Through LAMPCS

Officials said ragi procurement in the district is being carried out through 18 Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPCS), while the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation (TDCC) is responsible for lifting the produce from mandis.

However, farmers allege that delays in lifting stocks and processing procurement-related formalities have slowed down payment disbursal.

Officials Acknowledge Delay

Chandrakant Majhi acknowledged that the issue had been taken seriously by the district administration.

“The district administration has taken the matter seriously. Since it was decided to procure FAQ-quality ragi from this year, the process was slightly delayed. The issue has also been discussed with the collector,” he said.

Officials associated with the Shree Anna Abhiyan further stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issue and streamline procurement operations.

Concerns Grow Over Impact on Tribal Farmers

The delay has sparked concern among tribal farming communities in Rayagada, where ragi cultivation plays a major role in both nutrition and rural livelihoods.

Experts say prolonged procurement delays could discourage farmers from continuing large-scale cultivation despite government efforts to promote millets under nutritional and agricultural development programmes.

With pending payments and loan pressures mounting, farmers are now demanding immediate intervention from the administration to expedite procurement, lift stocked produce and release dues without further delay.