Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed the Agriculture and Farmer Empower Department to put in force a contingency crop plan with feasible drought looming over 68% of blocks of the State. Reviewing feasible drought situations here, Mr Patnaik stated, “As of now 213 of 314 blocks have recorded scanty rainfall. The department must monitor the scenario daily. Besides, Collectors must take the movement to mitigate the disaster via way of means of making discipline visits.”
He emphasized coordinated action at the implementation of the contingency plan, flowing of water in canals and execution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme works.
The CM was additionally directed to offer seeds and mini-kits for the second crop withinside the occasion of crop failure and deliver diesel pump units to the farmers at a concessional charge to keep the present crop.
Moreover, officers had been told to dig ponds in agricultural land measuring half an acre or more. All carry irrigation tasks must be made operational after their restoration within seven days. Share-croppers and small farmers must be encouraged to soak up livelihood technology works.
Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra stated the State has recorded 30% rainfall. Though paddy crops were affected because of the extended dry spell, the non-paddy crop might not be affected.