Several farmers of Bonei sub-division under the banner of Bonei Krusak Sangh (BKS) staged protest in front of Bonei Sub-Collector office on Monday, demanding compensation against their crop loss due to heavy rain fall following the Phailin and low pressure in the State. They claimed that as there has been heavy crop loss due to continuous rain for a week the State Government should provide them due compensation.
Bonei Sub-Collector Ramakanta Nayak invited the representatives of farmers for a discussion, following which a delegation of farmers under the leadership of BKS president Dambur Dhar Kisan discussed and submitted a memorandum, highlighting their demand.
However, Nayak instructed the Bonei District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Kedar Nath Mohapatra to prepare an assessment of crop loss of individual farmers and submit a report latest by November 2.
As many as hundreds of farmers from seven villages including Kasada, Tendari, Jhardapalli, Kendrikala,Jakeikala, Bada Gogua had reached at the Bonei Sub-Collector office along with samples of their damaged paddy and participated in the demonstration.
“After hearing their grievances, I have assured them to initiate proper steps, after getting the report from the DAO,” said Nayak.
Mohapatra even if agreed that there has been damages in the area, but claimed that the amount of damage is not above fifty percent of the total crop.
“Out of the total 67,000 hectors of land cultivated in Bonei sub-division of the district, as per our assessment, there has been crop damage in about 12,514 hectors land, which is obviously less than fifty percent of the total land cultivated this year. Therefore, as per the Relief Code, they are not eligible to get the compensation, since the amount of crop damage is less than fifty percent. But, as per the advice of the Sub-Collector, we have started preparing individual assessment of crop loss from Tuesday, which would be submitted by us shortly." Mohapatra said.