If the farmer develops, the country develops. That is the reason why the State and Central Governments are giving priority to farmers, said Gosani BDO Pabitra Mohan Kanungo on Thursday.
Attending a block-level Krushak Sampark Mela at Gosani, chief guest BDO Kanungo said as Gajapati district is full of rocky terrain and is devoid of forests, it is often hit by natural calamities in which the farmers are badly affected. There is a need for planting more trees to save nature, he said.
Ram Prasad Patra said the Mela is being held for the development of the farmers. It’s also good news for the farmers of Gosani that a Suravi agriculture shop is going to open very soon at the block office, where the farmers can get seeds and equipment needed for cultivation.
The main purpose of the Mela was to make sure all the farmers of the block register their names in the agriculture registration form so that they can avail various benefits from the State and Central Government if they have the Agriculture Registration Card, Patra added.
However, many farmers made a number of accusations at the Mela, which triggered chaos. A farmer, Jeebita Bhahan Jena, alleged that till now they have not received seeds subsidy and the seed supplied are of poor quality due to which cultivation has been affected.
Another farmer climbed onto the stage and questioned why the price of agricultural equipments like tractor and water pumps are costly in Odisha compared to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. He said while a tractor costs Rs 5.30 lakh in Andhra Pradesh it costs Rs 5.60 lakh in Odisha.
The Block Veterinary Officer tried to pacify the agitated farmers and assured them that they will do everything to solve their problems and asked them to maintain peace.
Among others, Zilla Krushaka Sangha president Surjya Narayan Patnaik, MlA representative Jaymohan Rao, Gosani vice chairman G Krishna, Krushi Overseer Bangsidhar Sahu, District Fishery Officer Krushna Chandra Pradhan and more than 200 farmers attended the programme.