Cattle Grazing in Shattered Paddy Field
Bhagabat Padhi,Odishabarta
Paralakhemundi:Due to lack rain farmers are now on crossed hand & their dream died for better paddy procurement.
At Mohana block of Gajapati district,an unbelievable scene found where those small & marginal farmers dashed all hopes of minimum production of paddy on their field.Due to lack of rain they are in can’t but situation but to allow for cattle grazing.At Mohana block of Gajapati district one Bhanja Kamara brought loan of Rs.30000 from LAMPCS(Large Multiple Cooperative Society).
On his 3 acres land now cracked due to lack of minimum water for irrigation. Similarly Benjamin Mallick of same village who has 4 acres of land, Brundabati Nayak of Kerakhal village having same 4 acres land not feeling shame to be evasive for cattle grazing who are on dire straits of assured minimum productions. They are now on tumultuous situation not for their survival but repayment of loan.
In Gajapati district out of expected 253.6 mm rain, but total rainfall was 166.97mm.Similarly on September out of expected 237.9mm total rainfall was 136mm. Subsequently on October too out of 168.6mm total rainfall was 147.34mm. Almost more than on an avarage 100 mm rainfall lost which would have fiddled expected productions.
In the district there are 39,072 acres of irrigated land & 44,420 acres of non-irrigated as per statistics. Only 26,689 acres are under cultivable part.There are 17 minor irrigation projects which support both Odisha & Andhrapradesh farmers. On back days on a hue & cry by the support of Andhrapradesh farmers voluntarily those farmers excavated canal for irrigation at Jangalpadu of Gosani block.
While interacted views of Collector Smrutiranjan Pradhan, he agreed such issues before administration,so he instructed lift irrigation & electricity department to affirm remedial measures where administration too keen on vigil on update measures that has been taken.
On retrospect those advanced farmers eg, R.Ramesh,Kabiraj Mali, Gopinath Patra on their introspections said for the first time such heavy drought situation found since last 15 years.
