ROURKELA: Dismissing reports about a farmer committing suicide due to crop loss, the Sundargarh district administration reiterated its claim of robust paddy harvest this kharif season and said only 164 hectares (ha) of total 2.11 lakh ha paddy areas were affected by pest attack.With paddy crop cutting in the tribal-dominated district nearing completion, there are indications of more than normal crop yield everywhere.
Sources said paddy cultivation was taken up on a total of 2.11 lakh ha this kharif season. While autumn paddy crops with duration of 110-120 days were cultivated over nearly 61,000 ha of highland, winter crops with duration of 120-150 days were raised on about 55,000 ha of lowland and 95,000 ha of medium land. While cutting of autumn paddy crops is almost over, farmers have been advised to stop harvesting of the remaining 20 to 30 per cent of winter crops till the prevailing overcast condition improves.
Administrative sources informed that as per norms under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, 364 crop cutting plots (each measuring 25 sq mts) were randomly selected across the district for assessment of autumn crop yield.
Sundargarh Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) RN Satpathy said crop cutting over 351 of 364 plots has been completed and against the normal average of 21.71 quintals/ha, the district reported average yield of 23.42 quintals/ ha of autumn paddy crops. He said of 304 selected crop cutting plots for winter paddy, harvesting on 134 plots has been completed. Against normal average yield of 32.85 quintals per ha, the district is reporting average yield of 33.98 quintals per ha, he added.
Incidentally, the paddy crop yield would have been much higher had the Stem Borer pest not damaged 5 to 10 per cent of crops in all 17 blocks of the district. Moreover, due to low pressure-induced rain in second week of October, sporadic incidents of damage to certain varieties of paddy crops with ‘no dormancy’ genetic feature were also reported. Meanwhile, the administration has paid compensation to affected farmers of Abankela and Nialipali villages in Tangarpali block for crop loss on 44.30 ha due to Stem Borer pest attack. However, payment of compensation for remaining affected areas of 120.12 ha in Sundargarh block is yet to be made.