Drought-like situation in 12 Odisha districts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue Minister Bijoyshree Routary on Wednesday said that 12 districts in the state are facing a drought-like situation and have suffered more than 33 percent crop loss.

The minister said that as per the 'eye estimation' reports received from the 12 district administrations, 33 percent paddy crop has been affected in 107 blocks.

The districts which have suffered crop loss due to scanty rainfall are Balasore, Boudh, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Puri and Subarnapur.

"Eye estimation reports received by the agriculture officials in the wake of erratic and inadequate rainfall during the current Kharif season show crop loss to the extent of 33 percent and more in 2,57,930 hectare of crop land in 12 districts," said Routray.

The minister said that delay in transplantation of paddy has been reported from various places in the state.

He said a joint survey of the crop loss was being carried out by the agriculture and revenue departments.

Routray said there was a shortfall of 9.3 percent and 25.2 percent in the rainfall in the months of July and August respectively, affecting the crops in the state.

In September, the average rainfall was also less by 4.3 percent. The cumulative rainfall in the state from June 1 to September 30 recorded a shortfall of 9.9 percent, he added.

Meanwhile, suicides by farmers continued unabated in Odisha as another farmer of Jampada in Titlagarh district died on Wednesday in a hospital in Nuapada district.

The deceased farmer Peeta Nag was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday evening after he consumed poison. Family sources said that he had taken a loan of Rs.1 lakh but the crop loss forced him to take the extreme step.