Kaptipada: Upset over crop loss due to pest attack, farmers from various parts of this block in Mayurbhanj district staged a sit-in protest near the tehsil office Friday.
United under the banner of Jay Kishan Sangh, the farmers demanded compensation for the losses.
Farmers voiced their frustration as the ‘chakada’ and ‘matiadgundi’ pests have caused loss of paddy in acres of land at Jamabani Nudadiha, Mankadapada, Kaptipada, Bishola, Jhinkapada, Pedagadi, Badabishola and Pingu. The farmers had earlier drawn the attention of the tehsil administration towards the crop loss due to pest onslaught November 13.
They had warned of an agitation if immediate steps were not taken in three days. They said that 70 per cent of people in the block depend on paddy cultivation. Due to pest attack, they have lost their hope of good harvest this year.
The agitating farmers accused the agriculture department of doing little to curb the spread of the pests.
The farmers have desperately been running from block agriculture office to their farmland, seeking advice from experts to save their crops, but to no avail.
The affected farmers lamented that the money they have invested in paddy cultivation has gone down the drain. They have taken loans from cooperative banks and borrowed from private moneylenders and were worried about paying back the loans when the crop has already been damaged.
Kaptipada tehsildar held talks with the agitating farmers and assured them that a joint survey by the revenue and agriculture departments will be carried out on the crop loss and a report will be submitted to the government for compensation.
PNN