Women SHGs help stop distress sale

The first time women SHG groups and farmers of pani panchayts have come up to procure paddy from farmers directly to curb distress sale in the southern area of Orissa includes Jeypore, Kotpad and other areas. Women SHGs are empowered by the administration over this in pani panchayts in villages in Jeypore sub-division to procure paddy directly from farmers, according to media reports.

The district administration has given powers to 31 women SHGs and nine pani panchayts to procure paddy and since the beginning of the procurement season, these women groups have been buying paddy from farmers of Kotpad, Borrigumma and Boipariguda blocks, which were earlier prone to middlemen and had a history of farmers’ unrest. Source