Bhubaneswar, Dec 6
Odisha farmers in drought hit areas of the state need immediate compensation, an inter-ministerial team that visited Odisha for two days has said.
Joint Secretary In the Agriculture Ministry KS Srinivas said on Saturday that the farmers are unlikely to survive with the harvest and need compensation.
He said that the crop loss was “extensive” and up to 80 per cent in some districts.
Srinivas led a 10-member team that visited the drought-affected areas of four districts of Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh and Nuapada.
The team members held discussion with district officials at the field level and shared their observations with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and other government officials here. They also met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat.
On the suggestions made to mitigate the drought situation, Srinivas said the state government needs to improve irrigation facilities and stress on micro-irrigation, particularly in the KBK (Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput) region.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra claimed that the central team has appreciated the State government’s report on the prevailing drought situation.
Of the 13.41 lakh hectare of land affected by the drought, 12.95 lakh hectare were rainfed areas, he pointed out.
