Sambalpur: The sudden attack of brown plant hopper (BPH) pest had partially affected standing crops in Dhankauda, Maneswar and Jujumura blocks of Sambalpur district during current rabi season.
The sample crop cutting was jointly conducted there on behalf of agriculture, revenue and statistics departments to assess the crop loss as per the standard provision.
Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Khagendra Jena said that the affected farmers would get compensation based on the sample crop cutting reports. So, he advised the farmers to wait for the reports patiently instead of raising a hue and cry.
Jena said the pest attack was contained in time using appropriate pesticides in proper quantity on the BPH-hit paddy crops. Moreover, he said, optimum results were achieved as the affected farmers cooperated with agriculture department officials by heeding their advice.
That is why the loss in the current season is less than the earlier khariff crop season.
Jena regretted that the pest control operation during the earlier khariff season went haywire as the departmental advisories were not taken seriously by the affected farmers. On the other hand, they were misguided by some unscrupulous elements, who took undue advantages of the confused situation.
Meanwhile, sample crop cutting operation was jointly conducted by the agriculture, revenue and statistics departments at riparian two island villages of Kud Mahada and Kud Amlipali under Kud Gunderpur gram panchayat in Dhankauda block in the district.
The entire gram panchayat is found to be an isolated cluster of islands in River Mahanadi and a road link from the main land to it is yet to be established.
As per the joint sample crop cutting reports available so far, the highest average crop yield was found to be 22.410 kg out of 25 square meters area in Rajendra Bhoi’s paddy field, whereas the lowest average was 10.800 kg from Duryodhan Bhoi’s field in Kud Mahada village.
Similarly, the highest average crop yield was 19.184 kg from Antarjyami Biswal’s field, whereas the lowest average crop yield was 14.125 kg from Soumitri Biswal’s field in Kud Amlipali village as per the reports.