Post News Network
Keonjhar, Dec 23: At a time when farmers in several blocks of this district have suffered crop loss due to scant rain and elephant menace, the recent unseasonal rain has added to their woes.
Farmers said the ready-to-harvest paddy and those which have already been harvested and piled up in yards have started germinating due to exposure to rain. In most of the areas, ripe paddy crops have been submerged in knee-deep water.
According to reports, farmers in nine blocks of this district suffered crop loss due to scant rainfall this monsoon. In four other blocks, there was good paddy output. But the unseasonal rain has damaged the harvested paddy and standing crops, farmers said, adding they do not have storage facilities to stock their produce.
Moreover, the delayed procurement process has forced the farmers to leave their produce in the open due to space crunch in procurement centres.
Farmers of Anandapur, Telkoi and Ghasipura blocks are the worst affected by scant rainfall. However, these blocks are not included in the list drought-affected areas, farmers lamented.
State Krushak Morcha president Maheswar Sahu criticised the government for not compensating farmers who were affected cyclonic storm Phailin in 2013. The government should conduct an immediate assessment of the crop damage due to the unseasonal rainfall and compensate the farmers accordingly, Sahu said.
Deputy director of agriculture, RK Panda, said they have been asked to assess the damage caused by erratic rainfall this year. Compensation is being provided to farmers for the crop loss they incurred due to drought, he added.
Farmers could not be compensated for the Phailin damage as Rs 2 crore sanctioned for the purpose is yet to be disbursed, Panda said.
Collector N Tirumala Nayak said tehsildars and revenue inspectors have been asked to assess the damage in their respective areas. PNN
