Delay in procurement leaves 80 farmers cheated of Rs.2 crore in Nagarkurnool

Around 80 farmers in Nagarkurnool were allegedly cheated of nearly Rs.2 crore after private agents who purchased their paddy and maize failed to make payments. The farmers blamed delayed government procurement and sought immediate intervention from district authorities.

Nagarkurnool: The State government’s delay in procuring paddy and maize allegedly forced farmers to sell their produce to private agents, leaving around 80 farmers cheated of nearly Rs.2 crore after the agents failed to make payments. The incident came to light in Bijinapally mandal on Monday.

According to reports, farmers from Vaddeman, Shayinipally, Gangaram, Allipur, Velugonda, Mahadevunipeta and Bijinapally villages turned to private agents after government procurement was delayed this season. Apart from the delay in procurement, transportation costs, fear of crops getting damaged due to unseasonal rains and the waiting time at the procurement centres compelled them to sell their stocks to the agents.

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The farmers sold their maize and paddy to agents identified as Shivaji and Aravind of Bijinapally and Hasan of Manganuru village. While some farmers were paid in cash, others received post-dated cheques ranging from Rs.50,000 to Rs.2 lakh, payable after one or two months. However, when the cheques were presented, the payments were not credited and the agents could not be traced. The office operated by the agents at Bijinapally headquarters was found locked, triggering panic among the farmers.

A week later, when the farmers confronted the agents over the delay, they were assured that the money would be deposited into their bank accounts within two or three days and were asked to rely on the cheques, reports said. The farmers became suspicious after the agents reportedly left the office, saying they were going to arrange the funds, but never returned.

Meanwhile, anxiety among the farmers intensified following the murder of Hasan, one of the agents, at Shadnagar four days ago. With Hasan dead and the other two agents, Shivaji and Aravind, absconding, the farmers realised they had been duped.

The affected farmers met the District Collector on Monday and submitted a representation seeking immediate intervention. They also staged a brief protest outside the Collectorate, charging that they had been compelled to depend on private agents only because the government had failed to procure their produce as scheduled.