In the wake of the most parts of the State receiving below normal rains, Chief Secretary GC Pati held a review meeting of the contingency plan on agriculture at the Secretariat here on Monday.It was revealed that 15 districts in the State have so far received lesser rains than normal and four districts, Khordha, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatisnghpur have received less rains than required between the June and July 13. Similarly, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj have received low rains so far during this monsoon.
It was decided that adequate measures would be taken to tackle the situation arising out below normal rains for cultivation. It was revealed that cultivation has been undertaken in a total of 20.52 lakh hectares of land in the State during this Kharif and 6.7 lakh tonne of paddy seed has been distributed to farmers so far. The limit of subsidised fertiliser distribution has been enhanced this year and the PACAs and Markfed would be entrusted the distribution work.The Agriculture department has decided to distribute 4,000 pump sets among farmers in the current Kharif season.The Chief Secretary asked the department to review rain situation and cultivation work every week.