BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State government promptly sanctioned Rs 128.58 crore for immediate restoration of public property damaged in the recent floods, the delay in the announcement of a similar package for farmers who sustained crop loss is baffling.
As per damage assessment reports received from 24 flood-affected districts, 1,26,162 hectares of farmland suffered crop loss of more than 33 per cent.
“The government has been advising farmers to take up short duration paddy or early rabi crop cultivation but it is yet to provide agriculture input subsidy or other financial assistance to the affected farmers. Further delay in the announcement of special package will be of no use,” said State BJP president Samir Mohanty.
“Faced with a similar situation in 2020, the State government had announced input subsidy for the flood-affected farmers on September 10. Perhaps the government is waiting for the crop-cutting reports from districts to announce a package for farmers. It will be of no use if the package is announced a week later,” said Dillip Kumar Baral, a farmer of Puri district.