Jhumpura: Now is the time for paddy flowering, but scores of farmers in some panchayats under tribal-dominated Jhumpura block in Keonjhar are a worried lot. Reason: Kaberi seeds that were provided to them by Jagat Janani Seva Trust on the assurance of a bumper harvest have failed to produce paddy shoots.
“Three months have passed, but there are no signs of paddy shoots in the plants. Since the lands are non-irrigated, we are in doubt if the seeds will generate shoots,” lamented some farmers. All their efforts, money and labour seem to have gone down the drain, they said.
On the other hand, elephant menace is keeping the farmers on tenterhooks. Many farmers have set up treetop houses and kept a watch on the paddy, sleepless.
This problem has been reported from Nischintapur, Kutugan, Arshala, Khuntapada and Balibandh panchayats. Farmers alleged that Jagat Janani Seva Trust managed by Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud was provided seeds free of cost. They had to submit photocopies of their voter identity cards and land pattas to get the seeds for a token amount of Rs 5. But some locals said the aim of seeds distribution to farmers was to get support for his candidature. Membership coupons were also given to the farmers.
Now, the free paddy seeds have landed farmers in deep trouble with no hope of harvest this year.
Arshala sarpanch Prasanna Nayak said the farmers had got the seeds free of cost, but they had borrowed other input costs from different sources.
“If the crops fail the farmers, they will plunge into debt trap. Their staggering economy will be at risk. If anything happens, the Trust will be responsible,” he added.
Block agriculture officer Bhaskar Padhi said his department was not aware of free distribution of seeds to farmers. “What can we do. Let the person look after the loss who has distributed seeds,” he noted.
PNN