“The Odisha government has asked the collectors of several districts to assess the damage caused to crops due to unseasonal rains in the state and submit reports at the earliest,” a minister said.
Unusual rainfall caused by the depression hit several parts of the state from December 20 to 22, causing damage to standing crops in some coastal and inland areas.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told media persons on Sunday (December 22, 2024), “Harvesters in the affected areas have been asked to take precautions against crops damaged due to unseasonal rains. Carry out a proper assessment. “Local tax officials will conduct the assessment after the rain stops,” he said.
The minister assured the affected farmers that the state government will provide adequate compensation for crop losses and provide assistance in marketing of surplus produce.
An official statement said that many coastal and inland areas such as Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Bodh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kandhamal, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Khurda, Koraput, Mayurnj, Nrangpurpur, awrang Nayagarh Crop production has continued to decline in Puri and Raigada for the past two days.
“About 1.5 million farmers in these districts have joined the insurance scheme. Farmers insured for Kharif crops under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (Kharif – 2024) are required to report losses in their harvested crops to claim insurance compensation. Farmers can use the following How to upload crop loss information Krish RakshakCall the app or call the helpline 14447 within 72 hours of crop loss,” the government said.
Meanwhile, farmers in Ganjam district are demanding relaxation in paddy procurement norms so that they can sell their produce to the government.
Simanchal Nahak, secretary of farmers’ organization Rushikulya Rait Mahasabha, said: “Cultivators who harvest crops and store them in fields for processing are affected due to untimely rains.”
“We are worried that their produce may be rejected due to moisture content. We demand the government to relax the Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms while purchasing paddy,” said Sameer Pradhan, a farmer from Takarada in Sheragada block.
During the visit of state commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena to Rangeilunda block, some farmers also demanded compensation for crop damage. He visited several villages and held discussions with farmers.
“Paddy procurement has been temporarily suspended as the Ganjam district government has begun assessment of the damage. The authorities will submit a report to the government within seven days.
“The government will take appropriate action to help the affected farmers,” the minister said. “The government earlier decided to start paddy procurement from Monday (December 23, 2024), which has now been rescheduled to January 3,” the official said.
“Chief District Agriculture Officer (CDAO) RN Panda said a joint survey by agriculture, horticulture and revenue officers has started on Sunday (December 22, 2024) to assess the exact damage. The survey will be held this month Done,” he said.
Published – December 23, 2024 at 12:08 pm (IST)