Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ruling party Biju Janata Dal will organize a protest meeting in front of the Food Corporation of India office in Bhubaneswar today demanding lifting of parboiled rice by the central agency. The issue of non-lifting of parboiled rice by the FCI is causing concern for the farmers and millers of the state for the last few days. BJD Members have also raised the issue in the Parliament and demanded the center to intervene and lift all the quota of parboiled rice produced from the state.
In a press meet organized yesterday, BJD leaders Srimayee Mishra and Sulata Deo had alleged that the BJP government at the center is shedding crocodile tears in the name of farmers but doing nothing. During 2020-21, Odisha produced 52 lakh tons of parboiled rice and FCI had to lift 22 lakh tons of these. But the central procurement agency has decided to lift only 2 lakh tons of raw rice and five lakh tons of parboiled rice from Odisha. This will cause much agony to the farmers and millers of the state.