Puri: Poultry farmers in the district expressed resentment over the relief package announced by the state government as “paltry”.
Terming the state government’s relief package as ‘’too little to compensate the losses’’ incurred by them in the aftermath of cyclonic storm Fani, poultry farmers rued that industries in Puri district have no scope of providing employment to the youth.
Emboldened by the Agriculture Policy, 2013 enunciated by the state, several unemployed youths in Puri district have taken up poultry farming.
Many farmers had borrowed from banks to take up poultry farming. As incentives, the state government had provided 33 per cent subsidy to male farmers and 50 per cent to their female counterparts.
However, cyclonic storm Fani that made landfall near the pilgrim city has damaged almost all poultry farms in the district, destroying around 10 lakh birds, claimed Puri district Poultry Farmers’ Association president Ashok Kumar Pradhan.
“Most of the poultry farms had asbestos roof in accordance with the state government guidelines. However, roofs of almost all poultry farms have been blown away by the storm. More than 4 lakh chickens were killed in Pipli block,” Pradhan claimed.
According to the poultry farmers, the state government had announced a compensation of Rs 50 for each dead chicken up to a maximum of Rs 5,000 to each farmer. However, the state government has not announced any compensation for the damaged farms.
“The state government has announced compensation for damaged cattle sheds and pens. But, it has no plan to compensate farmers for loss of poultry farms. Every farmer has incurred losses over lakhs of rupees due to the cyclone. The relief package of Rs 5,000 is too little to compensate the poultry losses,” Pradhan rued.
Pradhan claimed he has written to the Chief Minister, Puri district planning board chairman, Puri collector and chief district veterinary officer (CDVO) to consider the plight of poultry farmers and take necessary steps to revive poultry farming in the district.