Kendrapada: Farmers in Kendrapada district have resumed kharif cultivation after prolonged rain and flooding, but are now facing a shortage of fertiliser and attacks by stem borer pests, adding to their woes. The problems have affected cultivation across all blocks of the district. Farmers have alleged that urea is being sold at inflated prices amid shortages, with some forced to pay about Rs 200 more per bag.
Farmer leader Gayadhar Dhal said the situation had become critical for farmers this year. Prolonged rain followed by floodwater initially damaged kharif crops, but farmers replanted paddy hoping to recover their losses. However, stem borer attacks have now emerged in the fields. Of the 121 primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS) in the district, urea has reportedly not reached several societies, allowing some fertiliser dealers to take advantage of the shortage, Dhal said. Farmer leader Bidhubhushan Mohapatra said pest at tacks during the kharif paddy season and destroy 30 to 40 per cent of crops every year. He called for agricultural experts to inspect affected fields, provide necessary advice and ensure adequate supplies of fertilisers and pesticides. The government should compensate farmers for losses caused by the shortage of farm inputs, he said.
Jagdish Pati, a farmer from Depura village in Kendrapada block, said he had borrowed Rs 30,000 from a nearby cooperative society for this year’s cultivation. With the crop damaged by fertiliser shortages and pest attacks, he is now worried about repaying the loan. Prabhanjan Mishra, a scientist at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, said stem borer was a serious threat to kharif paddy. Farmers were being advised to drain water from the fields and refill them, avoid applying nitrogenous fertilisers during the pest attack and use potash fertiliser as recommended. They were also advised to rotate pesticides instead of repeatedly using the same type. District Agriculture Officer Surendra Kumar Mallik said chemical pesticides were being supplied to farmers at a 50 per cent subsidy and steps were being taken to prevent the distress sale of fertilisers.
Orissa POST – Odisha’s No.1 English Daily
