Farmers protest against FCI failure

Puducherry, Nov 3 (UNI) Traffic to Cuddalore via Kanniyakoil was affected as farmers carrying loads of paddy bags on tractors dumped on the road and held a demonstration in protest against the failure of Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure their paddy.

According to the farmers, the FCI used to procure paddy from the regulatory market at Kanniyakoil. However, the officials did not turn up for the last 15 days, causing hardships to the farmers who brought paddy on tractors every day and took it back.

As farmers were informed that an official from FCI would visit the regulatory market today to procure paddy. They brought the paddy. Since, the official failed to turn up, the irate farmers dumped the paddy bags on the road and resorted to an agitation.

Police intervned and pacified the farmers. Later, the official rushed to Kanniyakoil and assured immediate action, following which the farmers called off their agitation.

Meanwhile, members of an agricultural association, affiliated to the CPI(M), observed a fast at Villianur, near here, urging the administration to put an end to the scarcity of fertilizers and prevent illegal sand quarrying from the Sankarabharani river here.

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