In Odisha, 75 per cent of the total population is farmers and poor people. They neither have the financial resources nor adequate agricultural land. Most of them own one or two acres of land. So, the big farmers are the beneficiaries of the Government schemes,
This was stated by the speakers at a seminar on ‘Odisha Farmers and Their Problems’, organised by the Odisha Krushak Samaj (OKS) here on Wednesday.
Odisha Krushak Samaj (OKS) president Purna Chandra Mohanty said the Government is giving 50 per cent subsidy on tractors or trolleys which big combined harvesters and big farmers are availing.
They are ferrying sand in the tractor-trolleys. At different times, they are also giving these machineries on hire to small farmers.
Due to this, the small farmers are not able to make profits from their harvest. The banks are not providing loans for small farm equipments like power tiller or small harvesters.
The Government should stop giving subsidies for tractor-trolleys and harvesters; subsidies should be provided for power tillers and reapers to help the small farmers. A ban should be enforced on bringing harvesters from outside the State, Dr Mohanty demanded.
He also demanded that pump set targets be fixed through the blocks instead of the district agriculture office; every milk farmer be given 50 per cent subsidy to make their cowsheds pucca; and every farmer having four cows be given 50 per cent subsidy to sink tube-wells. The Horticulture Department should impart training for setting up of small-scale industries for producing fruit juice, jam, jelly and pickles and 50 per cent subsidy should be given for purchase of machinery.
Free electricity should be provided to farmers like in other States; the Agriculture Department should give 33 per cent subsidy to set up godowns; and cold storages should be set up in every block on a war footing, he further demanded.
Among others, former Deputy Director of Agriculture Sarat Chandra Bal, president of Odisha Krushak Samaj (OKS) Jagatsinghpur unit Artatran Pati and many farmers also spoke about the problems of the faring community.