Padmapur, Feb 14: Hundreds of farmers have staged protest on Dabha-Jharaband road at Dabha market in Bargarh district for the last three days in protest against delay in paddy procurement.

A group of seven protesting farmers on Thursday resorted to a hunger strike to press their demand.

The farmers also blocked the road putting around 5000 gunny bags containing the paddy produce on the road.

Around 191 farmers of Dabha society have not got token, which is mandatory to sell their paddy in the state-operated market yard.

District sub-collector discussed with the protesting farmers on Thursday to withdraw the protest but in vain.

The farmers said to withdraw the protest after procurement of paddy.

Notably, Odisha government has introduced a centralised token system for the paddy procurement.

However, the farmers are opposing the centralised token system as they are unable to get it at the proper time to sell their paddy.

Hundreds of vehicles were found stranded on the busy Dabha-Jharaband road following the protest.