Rasulpur: Cyclone Yaas-induced heavy winds and subsequent flooding in Baitarani River basin have spelled disaster for betel leaf farmers in Rasulpur block of Jajpur district.
According to a source, the cyclonic storm Yaas devastated acres of betel vines in the district. Betel leaves, being highly perishable, have been destroyed in large quantities. Several farmers from Karanjiari and Melaka villages under Odiso panchayat in Jajpur had adopted betel leaf farming this year, locals said.
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Usually, betel leaf farming was not being done in Rasulpur block for over two decades. However, Rasulpur Horticulture department had encouraged local farmers to adopt betel leaf farming. Around 16 villagers had carried out farming on over five hectares of farmland during this crop season, many farmers said.
Betel leaf farmers such as Benudhar Parida, Rabindra Das, Uttam Dutta, Basudev Dutta and Birabara Behera including many others from Rasulpur block have demanded adequate compensation by the state government after due assessment of losses caused by ‘Yaas’.
On being contacted, Assistant Horticulture Officer (AHO) Rasulpur Jayadev Shit said, “Field officers have been assessing the losses which will be communicated to the state government. Compensation will be given to the affected betel leaf farmers of Rasulpur block in the district as sanctioned by the government.”
PNN
