Maharathy urges drought-hit farmers not to take extreme step

Odisha's Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy today appealed to the farmers not to take extreme step in view of reports of suicides in the drought-hit region.
"I appeal to all the farmers in the state to have trust on the government and not to commit suicide as reported. The state government would announce additional package, if required," Maharathy said to a question on reports about spate of farmer suicides in the state.
The agriculture department would submit its final report on the alleged farmer suicide cases by November first week, Maharathy said after visiting some of the drought-hit pockets of Bolagarh and Begunia area in worst-hit Khurda district.

"I have received about 25 farmer suicide allegations. The district collectors and district agriculture officers are told to probe the cause of farmers' suicide. I hope to get the reports by first week of November," Maharathy said.
While Maharathy was busy touring Khurda districts, two fresh farmer suicide cases due to crop loss and debt burden poured in from Cuttack and Jajpur districts.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on October 22 had sought Rs 3,500 crore central assistance to tackle the drought situation in the state.

The state government has already announced a drought package worth Rs 1,000 crore to help farmers in the affected areas.

The crop loss of 33 per cent or above have been reported in 5.23 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the state, Patnaik said in a memorandum to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The state government has so far identified 123 blocks in 16 districts as drought affected in the state.
Balasore, Boudh, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Puri, Subarnapur, Bolangir, Nuapada, Jharsuguda and Bargarh have been declared as drought-affected districts due to scanty rainfall.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and BJP slammed the state government over the manner of handling the drought situation.
"The chief minister has demanded Rs 3,500 crore central assistance without properly assessing the intensity of drought in the state. Patnaik's move is just to mislead the people," Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram alleged.

Senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik also dubbed the chief minister's move as a "political gimmick". He said there was no point in seeking central assistance without assessing the situation at the ground level.