Ganjam: Scores of maize farmers in this block are in distress over crop loss due to pest attack and lack of conservation facility for their produce, a report said.
Even as many youths in the block have migrated to other states, abandoning their age old occupation of farming, due to natural calamity and lack of government encouragement, he preferred to stick to the profession and became a successful farmer, said Dasarathi Rana of Burudi village.
However, he is now in trouble after suffering loss in his maize cultivation, added Rana.
According to Rana, he had raised maize on a five acre patch this year like past years. He supports his family with whatever he earns from the farming. But the plants didn’t grow as per the expectation. The insects have damaged the roots and the leaves have turned yellowish. The maize produced from his farm is not adequate to meet even the labour cost. On the other hand, he had taken loan from a cooperative bank and now is in stress over repayment. The low pressure-induced rain also didn’t help his cause.
At present, he and other farmers are selling maize at a price between Rs 40 to 50 per dozen.
Now, they have to sell the produce as soon as possible before the maize dries up in sunlight.
A cold storage unit in the area would have been a major relief for the farmers, Rana said.
The farmers in Rambha, Burudi, Jharedi, Radhagovindpur, Sanramchandrapur, Sipakuda, Diandein and Madhurchuan areas in Ganjam block cultivate maize along with other vegetables. They first grow vegetables and cultivate maize towards the end of the year.
Most of the villagers are dependent on farming to support their families. However, the pest onslaught coupled with lack of conservation facility has given them sleepless nights, said a number of farmers.
PNN