Bhubaneswar: With cyclone Montha approaching, the Odisha Agriculture Department held a preparatory meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Department.
In a strict directive, Dr. Padhee instructed that no agriculture officer will be allowed to take leave until October 31, 2025, warning that disciplinary action may be taken for any violation. Officers have also been instructed to ensure that advisories reach farmers through all possible channels. Farmers are being urged to safeguard harvested crops by moving them to higher ground and to drain excess water from fields.
As part of immediate post-cyclone measures, agriculture officers will assess crop damage as soon as floodwaters recede. Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo emphasized that no affected farmer should be excluded from the crop loss assessment.
State records indicate that 14.17 lakh hectares of agricultural land are insured. Farmers under the PMFBY scheme can apply for insurance via the NCIP portal, call the toll-free number 14447, or reach out to the WhatsApp chatbot at 7065514447. A dedicated control room has also been set up by the Agriculture Department to coordinate relief and support.
The meeting was attended by Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, Additional Secretary Dr. Ganeshwar Jena, senior officials, Chief District Agriculture Officers, and Assistant Horticulture Officers from all districts, who joined through video conferencing.
