Drought: Odisha begins agriculture input subsidy distribution

With drought condition in Odisha's 139 blocks turning acute and reports of farmers' suicide coming in allegedly due to debt burden, the state government today said it has already started distribution of agriculture input subsidy among the affected farmers.
"By November 16, the state government has distributed Rs 7.18 crore among drought hit farmers in 14 districts," Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Bijayshree Routray said.
Affected farmers in seven other districts would get the subsidy soon, he said adding the state government has allotted Rs 113 crore for input subsidy.
Routray said the highest number of drought affected blocks is 17 in Mayurbhanj district, followed by 14 in Balangir, 12 each in Bargarh and Kalahandi, 10 in Nabarangpur, 9 each in Kandhamal, Keonjhar and Sambalpur districts.

The minister said the crop loss was reported in over 5.23 lakh hecatre of land of which 63,020 hectare sustained crop loss of more than 66 per cent.