Odisha asks collectors to report on crop loss in pest attack

The government’s move comes as farmers in different parts of the state are setting fire to their fields after failing to control pests.

With farmers in different parts of the state setting fire to their fields after failing to control pests, Odisha government on Thursday asked the collectors of eight districts to submit report within two days on the quantum of crop loss due to the insect attacks, officials said.

There are reports that farmers have set afire their fields after failing to save their crop from pests.(HT/Representative Photo)

The direction was issued by the revenue and disaster management Department after a farmer in Baragarh district allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday for crop loss due to pest attack.

Besides, the state government has received reports from Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Rayagada and Ganjam districts that farmers have set afire their fields after failing to save their crop from pests.

“The government is prepared to provide assistance to the affected farmers under State Disaster Fund,” agriculture minister Damodar Rout said.

The state government asked the collectors of Bargarh, Bolangir, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sonepur to submit reports on the quantum of crop loss due to the pest attack, the officials said.

In a letter to them, additional relief commissioner Mihir Chand Mallick asked the district authorities to conduct joint field verification through the field functionaries of revenue and disaster management, agriculture and farmers empowerment departments.

The collectors were asked to furnish their reports along with detailed information about the area under crop loss to the extent of 33%t and above to the department within two days, an official said.

The letter said that senior officers of the district should supervise the exercise and verify the report to ensure that correct data reaches to the government, he added.

Meanwhile, Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has asked the district collector of Bargarh and secretaries of agriculture and revenue departments to submit their reports on suicides by farmers within three weeks.

It issued the notice based on a petition filed by Samajwadi Party state president Rabi Behera on the alleged suicide by a farmer from Kalapani village in Bargarh district.

On the allegation of fake pesticides being provided to farmers, agriculture secretary Sourav Garg said that teams have been engaged to verify the pesticides available in the markets of Bargarh district.

“Stringent action will be taken if duplicate pesticide are sold to farmers,” he said.