India, Dec. 20 -- Farmers in Sonepur district staged a unique protest on Saturday over delays and uncertainty in paddy procurement, triggering disruption on a key roadway. Expressing frustration over the non-issuance of tokens and the slow lifting of paddy at mandis, agitating farmers sold rice at a symbolic price of Rs 10 per kg and blocked the road by burning tyres.

The protest took place at Koudiamunda Chhak on the Sinsamura-Pandkital main road, bringing vehicular movement to a halt for several hours. The agitators alleged that although mandis in the district were officially opened on the 9th of the month, farmers were yet to receive procurement tokens, and paddy stocks lying at the mandis were not being lifted.

According to the prot...