More than 27,472 hectares (ha) of land of eight blocks, namely Bijepur, Sohela, Padampur, Jharbandh, Bargarh, Barpali, Paikmal and Gaisilate in Bargarh have been drought-hit during the kharif season.
Deputy Director of Agriculture ( DDA)Bargarh Nava Kishor Das made a survey of the situation.7,519.82 ha in Bijepur block, 13,718 ha in Sohela block, 5,135 ha in Padampur, 3,447 in Jharbandh, 1,939 ha in Bargarh have been drought-hit. Barpali, Paikmal, and Gaisilet blocks also have hundreds of hectares affected by drought.
Western Odisha Farmers Association convenor lingaraj alleged that the Odisha Government has neglected the affected farmers in compensating for the loss though Bargarh district has faced drought situation in last two years.
Meanwhile, DDA Das said the farmers have been advised to cultivate ground nut, green gram, mustard seed, black gram and other cash crops after paddy harvest.