Even as hope for a bumper crop in the state has been shattered with continuous and untimely rains damaging crops over vast stretch of land in southern and coastal districts, farmers have launched agitation demanding adequate compensation for the damage.
“In our estimate, farmers in Ganjam district alone suffered a loss of Rs Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 crore”, said former assembly speaker and senior Congress leader, Chintamani Dyansamantara.
Besides paddy, other standing crops including sugarcane, pulses, cotton were damaged due to the rains, said general secretary of Ganjam district sugarcane growers association Samir Pradhan. He demanded that the government should waive the land cess from the affected farmers and defer the repayment of crop loan.
At least two farmers in Ganjam, the worst hit district have lost their lives after suffering huge losses due to untimely rains. While 42 year old Arun Kumar Swain allegedly committed suicide in his field at Rampalli in Chhatrapur block, another Akamra Swain (48) died of heart attack at his home at Kanchara in Ganjam block after returning from his ruined paddy field. District administration, however, said inquiry is on to ascertain the causes of their death.
The incidents were reported close on the heels of chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to the district. Patnaik along with the state’s revenue minister SN Patra and chief secretary Bijay Patnaik on Sunday toured several affected areas in Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur and Bolangir districts. Patnaik assured the farmers to provide assistance to the farmers.
Meanwhile the government has announced that the small and marginal farmers, who sustained losses in agriculture, horticulture and annual plantation to the tune of 50 percent or above in the recent rains, would be paid Rs 4000 per hectare in case of irrigated land. The assistance is however Rs 2000 per hectare for the non-irrigated land. In case of perennial crop, the assistance would be Rs 6000 per hectare.