Loisingha: As paddy farming has been severely affected by insufficient rainfall in Bolangiri and the region is headed for drought, the district administration has underscored the need for promoting pulse farming in a large scale to bring relief to farmers, a report said.
Collector Chanchal Rana held a review meeting on the drought situation of Loisingha along with officials of the agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, soil conservation, minor irrigation and irrigation departments here.
Block agriculture officer Ramchandra Khardia said a target was set to raise non-paddy crops in 10,665 hectares and paddy in 10,550 hectares in 20 panchayats under the block in this khariff season.
For lack of water, transplantation of saplings could not be carried out in 3000 hectares while post-sowing activities could not be done in 2000 hectares. Five panchayats were affected by drought-like situation.
17 minor irrigation projects have given irrigation coverage to 1409 hectares in the block. For 57 hectares, there are 47 cluster LI points in the block while 12 LI points have become defunct. If the defunct LI points are activated, 40 hectares can be irrigated, an assistant engineer said.
To deal with the drought situation, the agriculture department has proposed measures for pulse farming, the animal husbandry department will encourage grass farming in fallow land while the fisheries department and the block administration will create works through MGNREGS.
PNN
