Post News Network
Tihidi, March 17: Over 1,400 farmers in six panchayats under this block of Bhadrak are a dejected lot after the Union government stopped providing any assistance to mustard growers under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) this year.
Last year, the government had extended help to mustard farmers. About 1,500 farmers had grown mustard in Dolasahi, Paliabindha, Kubera, Bilana, and Talagopabindha panchayats in over 600 acres. However, this year, mustard
cultivation has reduced to only 100 acres in the block, due to lack of government support.
The farmers used to get mini equipment kits, two quintal of seeds and fertilizer free of cost. About 60 quintal of mustard seeds was required for the farmers previous year.
Sources said each farmer used to get `13,000 to 15,000 per an acre of land as profit. More and more famers were encouraged to grow mustard because of such help, which has been stopped now.
Harihar Jena and Manoranjan Behera, two farmers of Talagopa village in Talagopabindha panchayat, lamented, “As the government has halted giving support in terms of free seeds, fertilizer and insecticides, the input farm cost of the farmers have exponentially gone up. Many farmers have not taken up mustard cultivation this year, apprehending huge loss.”
Corroborating the same observation, Parsuram Nayak of Palia and Ganesh Khamuari of Dolasahi said farmers are really frustrated after the Union government stopped its support and encouragement under the RKVY.
Assistant block agriculture officer Raghunath Pati admitted that famers are not keen to take up mustard cultivation since the government has stopped supporting them. “However, some steps have been taken up under the state plan just to continue this cultivation in some areas,” Pati added.
