Sambalpur: The latest report on the extent of damage of paddy crops in the district due to pest attacks showed a five-fold increase over the earlier report.
As per statistics issued by the district administration Saturday, 28,227.22 hectares of farmland in the district were affected by pest attacks.
The worst affected areas are 96 villages under 13 Gram Panchayats (GPs) and urban local bodies of Dhankauda block (8444.70 ha) while Naktideul saw only 6.12 ha spread in nine villages under three GPs affected by pests.
Speaking to Orissa POST, collector Samarth Verma said the figures were complied in a hurry based on eye estimate as the deadline for submitting the report to the state government drew closer.
The report was supposed to be submitted by Friday, said district emergency officer Sanjib Pujary. Sharing his experience of handling the tough job, Pujary said despite best efforts reports from the fields did not reach his office.
The compiled report said the Jamankira block has the maximum affected areas of 238 villages and the least affected block was Naktideul with just nine villages. Dhankauda sadar block had 8444.70 hectares in 96 villages affected by pests. This included areas under the Sambalpur Municipality Corporation.
Irrigated areas were more vulnerable to pest attacks. While 5,392 hectares in irrigated areas were affected by pests, 1744.63 hectares in non-irrigated land were hit by pest attacks as the use of pesticides is more in irrigated areas compared to non-irrigated land.
Dhankauda is the worst affected block in the district with more than 50 per cent of its 2,623 hectares in irrigated land being affected by pests while 895.63 hectares in rain-fed land were hit. PNN
