Farmer’s on Monday gheraoed the office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) of Sambalpur on various demands.
“Since there is no permanent DDA posted at Sambalpur and the DDA of Deogarh is looking after Sambalpur as additional charge, this important office during an alarming situation of Chakada Poka (brown plant hopper pest) attack comes to no use of the farmers,” alleged Bibhu Prasad Patnaik, a frontline leader cum president of the Sasan Canal Pani Panchayat.
Patnaik accompanied by other leaders alleged that the office is also not giving any clear cut advice how to tackle the menace and save the standing crops from further damage. After meeting the District Agriculture Officer (DAO) in absence of the DDA, the representatives met Collector Samarth Verma.
They also apprised the Collector that the Odisha Agro Industries Corporation which is supposed to sell pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other agricultural equipment to the famers is grossly neglecting in its duty.