Monday May 5 2008 11:30 IST
Express News Service
PHULBANI: CULTIVATION programme in Kandhamal district has been badly hit due to largescale vacancies in the posts of field officers in the Agriculture Department and lack of irrigation facilities.
Like previous year, this year too, at the agriculture promotion meeting, it was decided to cultivate 1,27,790 hectares of land, out of which, advanced variety of paddy was to be grown in 50,000 hectares, oilseed in 14,390 hectares, dal in 12,220 hectares, spices in 15,830 hectares and vegetables in 15,700 hectares.
Considering the interest of farmers in maize cultivation, it was also decided to cultivate maize in 16,300 hectares of land. Presiding over the meeting, Collector Manish Verma emphasised on timely supply of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides besides facilitating loans to farmers.
It was also decided to grant seed and fertiliser licenses to interested farmers in the villages of the district. However, shortage of staff in the agriculture office has marred the cultivation prospects. More than 35 posts in different categories have been lying vacant.
Out of the 24 assistant agriculture officer posts, 14 are vacant and against 40 posts of village-level agriculture workers, 11 are vacant. Lack of irrigation facilities is another stumbling block. While in kharif season, only 14.90 percent of the targeted land could be covered for irrigation, in the rabi season, it came down to 5 percent only.
Meanwhile, keeping in view these problems, it has been decided to revamp the lift irrigation points, dig up 100 bore-wells, 80 irrigation wells and come up with 20 new lift irrigation points. This apart, orders have been given to repair defunct middle and minor irrigation projects before the rainy season.
The Joint Director and Deputy Director of Agriculture along with the officers of Irrigation and Co-operative department were present at the meeting.
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