Keonjhar: The government claims that it has implemented many welfare schemes for farmers. KALIA is the latest, launched ahead of elections promising to encourage agriculture.
However, the farm sector is facing problems in the mineral rich Keonjhar district due to lack of irrigation, cold storage and marketing facilities. Farmers here hold the government responsible for this.
Tribals depend on agriculture. If agriculture had been given importance tribals would have been reaping its benefits now, they said.
Although farmers in some areas got a good harvest of paddy from high-yielding varieties they are unable to get the right price for their produce.
Apart from paddy, farmers here cultivate vegetables too. Mustard, sesame and maize are grown in hilly areas. But in the absence of right marking and cold storage facilities, farmers do not get the right price for vegetables.
As a result farmers end up getting exploited. Farmers squarely blamed it on the apathy of public representatives and the administration.
The government had declared that it would set up cold storages in all blocks, but nothing has been done in this regard. Many farmers said the lack of cold storage facilities is a major problem for them.
Deputy director of horticulture, Om Prakash Rath, said there is no cold storage in the district. “Difficulty in getting bank loans is a major factor. Farmers are being encouraged to set up small cold storages,” he added.
The district has not achieved much in irrigation. Agriculture mostly depends on rain. The Kanpur mega irrigation project at Basudevpur is incomplete. Its works has been going on for the last 25 years. Once completed it will be a big boost to the district’s agriculture sector.
As per the agriculture department’s data the district has 2,97,873 hectares. Of this, 1,82,500 hectares are meant for paddy. During kharif season, only 93,510 hectares get irrigation. In rabi season, 45,175 hectares have irrigation coverage.
But the reality is different. In many areas farmers do not have irrigation, and despite this have to pay water cess.
Paddy procurement is a major issue in some areas. The district civil supplies department said 11,82,941.17 quintals of paddy was set to be procured in 2018-19, but only 5,19,230 quintals have been procured till January 20 triggering allegations of distress sale of paddy.
In previous years, paddy procurement had not achieved targets in the district. Although the administration has denied distress sale of paddy, farmers said that due to delayed procurement they had to sell paddy to traders at throwaway prices.
Civil supplies officer, Paresh Mohanty, denied the allegation of distress sale of paddy and asserted that procurement is going on smoothly in the district.
Here are some views of farmers in the district.
Videshi Nayak, a farmer of Khiteitangiri said, “Farmers have a lot of problems. KALIA will help them.”
“Farmers are always neglected. KALIA will in no way help them. It is a bad policy. The real issues of farmers should be understood and policies should be framed accordingly. Irrigation and other facilities will be a better option for them,” Giridhari Mohant, a farmer of Mahuladiha, said.
Maheswar Jena of Kabitra said, “There is no development in agriculture. Farmers do not get the right price for their produce. KALIA is a false promise as it does not give results.”
Baya Munda of Bodapalasa said, “All promises are false. People gave up their work and rushed to panchayat offices. It led to fights. Then they rushed to banks, but no money was available. Farmers did not even get messages on their mobile phones.”
“Instead of money farmers should be provided with other facilities. Money will get spent. With this money farmers cannot pay their loans. It is better to waive the loans. At least poor farmers will get some benefits,” Basant Kumar Ray of Kathakaranjia said.
Raghunath Patra of Ranki said, “KALIA will give only temporary relief to farmers. It will not sort out issues permanently. Everyone is crying for farmers, but none understands the real issues.”
Kirtan Bihari Jena, a leader of farmers, said, “The schemes of the state and central governments will not solve the problems of farmers. Farmers should get the right price for their produce. There is need to pay pensions to farmers.”
“Poor farmers and sharecroppers do not get benefits while the rich are getting all the benefits. The government should ensure that poor farmers get help,” Gobindachandra Patra of Gambharia said.
Sharat Pohi of Telkoi said, “Farmers are always neglected. During elections, leaders make many promises. But none is interested in helping farmers. Marketing and cold storage facilities are needed. If these are not provided, farmers will be forced to resort to distress sale.”
Bimbadhar Sahu of Telkoi said, “Farmers do not get reasonable prices. That’s why they are always miserable. There is a need for a permanent solution for this. Otherwise, farmers will give up cultivation.”
PNN