Standing crops in acres of land reduced to ashes in Balasore

Balasore: Many farmers in villages of Balasore are reeling under intense stress as standing paddy crops have been repeatedly catching fire on their farmlands.

While crops in acres of land were damaged due to fire mishap in five places of the district in the last ten days, the reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.

According to sources, farmers of Dhuliuda village under Kundali panchayat in Basta block were the most affected after standing crops in 25 acre of land reduced to ashes in the fire.

“My family was dependent on the agricultural produce and I have no idea what to do after this,” said a sobbing Basanti Jena of Dhuliuda village whose paddy crops were destroyed in the fire mishap.

Another farmer, Maheswar Jena said, "I had cultivated five acres of land and harvested crops from just one acre of land. I have taken loan and mortgaged gold ornaments and other valuables for agriculture. I do not know how to pay the loan amount."

Though fire personnel rushed to the spot after getting information, they could not enter the farmland due to lack of proper roads which led to extensive damage of the crops.

The officials of Revenue and Agriculture Department were sent by the district administration to inspect the situation and prepare a damage assessment report so that the affected farmers can be compensated.

“We will talk to the farmers as well as the share croppers about the damage incurred due to the fire mishap and prepare a report on it,” informed Revenue Inspector (RI) of Kundali, Dinabandhu Kisku.