Bhubaneswar: The State government has advised farmers to keep their harvested crops in safer places as IMD predicted rain in several districts under the influence a low-pressure area over the Andaman sea.
Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Dr Arabinda Padhee said paddy crops have been harvested in many places while the harvesting is going on in some other places. Farmers who have harvested their crops should shift them to safe places, Padhee said.
“We are well prepared to face any eventuality. We are working in coordination with OUAT research team. We will issue an advisory soon after getting IMD alert,” he added.
Separate advisory will be issued for affected districts, he maintained.
Padhee advised the farmers to change the timing of potato planting.
This year, 22 lakh farmers have been included in Fasal Bima Yojana. The department will take action on the drought situation after receiving reports from the districts. If crop loss is found anywhere, the insured farmer will get compensation, the secretary informed.
As per IMD reports, several places in south Odisha including Malkangiri, Koraput, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal are likely to experience rain from December 5 under the influence low pressure over Andaman Sea.
