Odisha farmers to get compensation for pest attack

The Odisha government on Sunday said compensation will be provided to the farmers whose crops have been affected by the pest attack, terming it as a natural calamity.

The state government's move came after farmers in various places across the state burnt their standing paddy crops following the pest attack.

Besides, several farmers have allegedly committed suicide as the pesticides failed to contain the pest menace in their paddy fields.

Reviewing the situation through a video conference with district collectors at the state secretariat here, Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan stressed on various measures to tackle the situation.

He said collectors have been advised to intensify different awareness drives and other grassroot level workers will be mobilized for this exercise.

"The government is with the farmers. There is no need to panic," said the Development Commissioner.

The state government has already ordered the disbursal of assistance for Rabi crops and at present there is no need for the farmers to panic, he added.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will hold a cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the farmers' issues and pest attack.

According to a report of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), crops in nearly 1,78,932 hectares of agricultural land have been affected by pests in nine districts of Odisha.

Standing crops in 8,211 villages in 92 blocks and 19 urban local bodies have been affected by the pest attack in Bargarh, Nuapada, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Koraput and Ganjam districts, the report said.

There has been 33 to 50 per cent crop loss in nearly 1,12,000 hectares of land while 20 blocks in Ganjam district have been the worst affected.

Besides, 14 blocks in Bolangir and Koraput, 12 in Kalahandi and 11 in Bargarh have also been affected by pests this year.

--IANS

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