Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Nov 2: The tendency to blaze pest-attacked standing paddy crop seems to have spread like a contagious disease among farmers in the state, as several such incidents were reported Thursday, even as the tensed state government issued a helpline number to address the grievances of the distressed ryots.
After the death of Brundaban Sahoo of Kalapani in Bargarh district Wednesday, who set his pest-attacked paddy field on fire and committed suicide at the same place, a farmer of Arda village under Maneswar block in Sambalpur district, Surjya Hota, who had hoped that he would get a good harvest this season and would be able to repay the loans borrowed from money lenders, was forced to set his crops on fire as it was attack by ‘chokoda’ insects.
In another incident a from Rayagada allegedly torched his acres of paddy field as the crops were pest infested.
Reports of such incidents also poured in from other parts of the state including Limakudia village under Chikiti in Ganjam and Chinguribali village of Sonepur district. A few farmers in Jharsuguda also reportedly torched their pest-affected paddy field at Ayenlapada under Lakhanpur block.
Worried over such large number of reports of crop fields being torched the state government which had asked district Collectors for a joint survey on pest-attack floated a toll free number to address the problems faced by the distressed farmers.
State Agriculture Secretary Saurabh Garg said, “A toll free number 18001801551 under kissaan call centre helpline will remain open from 6 am to 10 pm on which farmers can call and file their grievances to get a quick solution.”
The Agriculture secretary said that will be available over phone with whom farmers can discuss their problems.
Meanwhile, the directorate of Agriculture and Food Production said that farmers can also obtain information regarding pest-control dialing 0674-6530653.
The Agriculture secretary also said that after receipt of the reports from collectors the affected farmers will be compensated as per the state disaster relief fund norms.
The reports of pest-attack on paddy fields, especially in Western Orissa, have become a matter of concern. Speaking to this paper Thursday, Sambalpur collector Samarth Verma said the state government is concerned and has sought reports from affected districts by November 3 to take appropriate action. He said about 6,000 hectares of standing crop has been hit in Sambalpur district, according to information available with him.
He said he has asked his officials to visit affected areas and hold awareness meetings with villagers about pest attack. He added that his special official team will keep an eye on the emerging situations and farmers so that no farmer commits suicide.
