Nuapada: A record production of maize, cotton and pulses in the district has brought a sigh of relief to farmers who are hoping to make up for their losses in paddy cultivation.
The output gave the farmers a reason to smile once again. However, lack of initiatives from the administration is forcing maize farmers in several villages under Sadar block to resort to distress sale of their produce, a report said.
Already reeling under the impact of drought condition, the farmers are now compelled to sell their produce below its market price since the administration is yet to set up market yards to facilitate sale of their produce.
No effort has been made by the district agriculture department to help the maize farmers in the last three-four years, some farmers alleged. The cash crop is lagging behind due to the department’s apathy, they claimed.
Maize was cultivated in 742 hectares in Nuapada block while the administration had set a target of 1,400 hectares. Similarly, 1981 hectares were under maize cultivation in Komna block against a target of 2,100 hectares; 670 hectares in Boden block against a target of 800 hectares; 813 hectares in Kharial block against target of 1,100 hectares and 1,817 hectares in Sinapali block against a target of 1,600 hectares.
On an average, a hectare of land produces 30 quintals of maize. Accordingly, 1.5 lakh quintals of maize were produced in the district, assistant agriculture officer Sudhanshu Shekhar Sahu said.
However, in the absence of a viable market, maize farmers are pushed into distress. Taking advantage of the plight of the farmers, traders are raking in the moolah by purchasing the produce at throwaway prices.
Even though the administration has set a minimum purchase price of Rs 1,420 per quintal, traders from Orissa and neighbouring states are buying maize at Rs 800-900 per quintal.
Delay in opening of mandis has forced the farmers to desperately sell their produce, said a farmer Bhajan Majhi Nag of Maniguda.
Another farmer Ganeswar Sunani said, “We have urged the administration to open procurement centres, but to no avail.”
With 1.5 lakh quintals of maize produced in the district, the farmers would have earned Rs 21.30 crore if the crops were sold as per the government-fixed price of Rs 1,420 per quintal. However, the delay in opening of mandis and the distress sale of the produce have led to loss of approximately Rs 7.50 crore to the farmers, some farmers said. They called on the collector to take note of the issue and take immediate action.
When contacted, Umesh Chandra Das, deputy director of agriculture, said the department had written a letter to the government for opening mandis. However, no formal orders have come from above, he added. PNN