The Pioneer, Bhubaneswar. Dated: 12.December. 2011
Farmers of Nabarangpur district under the banner of Zilla Jai Kishan Krushak Mahasangh took out a march on Friday, demanding that Government should declare the district as drought-hit.
The farmers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Additional District Magistrate, stating that due to the scanty rainfall during the kharif season, over 60 per cent of standing crops were damaged.
They urged the Government to provide compensation with free seeds and fertilizer at more subsidised prices and waive farm loans while ordering sanction of fresh interest-free loan for rabi crop to the cultivators.
The memorandum also included demands for relaxation of crop quality of FAQ, raising of minimum support price of paddy to Rs 1,500 per quintal, restoration of irrigation facilities in the district, supply of Indravati water to Tentulikhunti, Nandahandi and Nabarangpur, making defunct bore-wells and LI points in the district functional, supply of fertilizers such as DAP, urea and MOP at gram panchayat level in time, issue of identity card to farmers in time, installation of Krushak Bazar for selling of vegetables by the farmers and establishment of a sugar factory at Churchanda.
The farmers said that though Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro reviewed the situation and promised to take steps to declare the district drought-hit, it is yet to be done even after the elapse of two months.
Mahasangh general secretary Durga Prasad Rath said farmers who earn their livelihood through cultivation lost everything in the drought and have no alternative to maintain their families. They are now leading a miserable life while many have moved to outside States in search of jobs.
