Simulia: About 30 years ago, many farmers in Simulia block of Balasore district used to grow sugarcane in abundance. However, over the years, they abandoned farming this cash crop due to alleged non-cooperation of the Agriculture department.
Now, once again the focus is on sugarcane farming in the area. According to reports, scores of farmers in Harisinghpur panchayat have resumed sugarcane farming after 30 years. However, the farming has been delayed by five months this year.
They apprehend that delay in raising the cash crops may result in low yield. The vast stretches of farmlands along Kansabansa river are fertile enough to sustain the cash crops, while the local climate is suitable for growing sugarcane.
The other reason for farmers to resume sugarcane farming is that every year floods destroy paddy in hundreds of acres in Ankula, Kabirpur and Harisinghpur along Kansabansa river.
Owing to massive losses inflicted by the floods to paddy farming, the farmers have left hundreds of acres of land uncultivated. “Water from various areas under Simulia, Khaira, Soro and Bhadrak blocks drain into Kansabansa, leading to floods every year.
Floods have shattered our economy. Raising sugarcane is an alternative livelihood for the paddy farmers. Alluvial soil is suitable for cultivating sugarcane,” local farmers said. Last year, six farmers expressed interest in taking up sugarcane farming.
They contacted the official of the Agriculture and Horticulture departments. After the Agriculture department assured the farmers help, they cultivated sugarcane in 10 acres initially. “Agriculture officials made field visits five months ago and assured us to provide seeds. But they failed to provide the seeds.
Instead, the department provided us with Rs 24,000 to buy seeds from others,” farmers informed. Farmers took time in collecting seeds from various places of Bhadrak and Jajpur.
They managed to collect only 21 quintals of seeds, which fell short of their requirement. At least 1 to 1.5 quintals of sugarcane seeds are required for a ‘gunth’ of land. There is need for 420 quintals of seeds for 10 acres.
For shortage of seeds, sugarcane farming has been confined to a few acres this year. Akshay Nayak, a local farmer, had wanted to grow sugarcane in his entire land, but he had to limit his farming to only two to three ‘gunths’ of land.
The farmers here pointed out that they lagged behind due to delay in arranging seeds, while farmers in Bhadrak and Jajpur had sown seeds five months back.
“We are now worried over how much the sugarcanes will grow by the time they are harvested,” Nayak said. Agriculture officer Stithapragyan Khamari said that sugarcane farming has been started in the area for the first time.
“After the block level agriculture committee approved the proposal, farmers were provided with financial assistance,” he added.
PNN