Nabarangpur, Aug. 21 (UDN): Farmers across Odisha’s Nabarangpur district are facing hours-long waits at LAMPS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society) centres as they race to complete paddy procurement registration before the deadline.

With only a few days remaining for enrolment, registration centres have witnessed heavy crowds, forcing many farmers to make repeated visits while leaving behind their farm work.

According to local reports, the district had over 50,000 registered paddy farmers last year. This season, however, only about one-fifth of them have completed the registration process so far, raising concerns that many may miss the deadline.

Repeated visits add to farmers’ hardship

Farmers say the limited number of registration centres has become a major challenge, particularly for those travelling from distant villages.

“We have been coming here for three days to complete our registration. Every visit means travelling a long distance and losing valuable work hours. If registration facilities were available at nearby panchayats, it would make things much easier,” said farmer Bijay Das.

Many fear that failing to register in time could prevent them from selling their paddy through the government’s procurement system.

Officials promise faster registration

District authorities say measures have been introduced to reduce delays and speed up the process.

District Cooperative Registrar (DRCS) Sarat Chandra Panigrahi said farmer registration began on August 6. Earlier, registrations were being processed through a single login ID, but multiple IDs have now been activated to increase processing capacity.

He also acknowledged that technical glitches had slowed operations in the initial days.

“There were server-related issues, but we have been informed that they have been resolved. With multiple IDs now operational, the registration process is expected to become smoother and faster,” Panigrahi said.

Pressure mounts before deadline

Despite the administration’s assurances, the rush at LAMPS centres continues as thousands of farmers attempt to complete the mandatory registration before the closing date. Farmers are urging the government to decentralise the process by opening temporary registration counters at gram panchayat offices, which they believe would reduce travel, shorten queues, and ensure that eligible cultivators are not left out of the procurement system.