Chakada Menace: Odisha Farmer Sets Paddy Crops On Fire

Sonepur: A farmer set his standing paddy crops on fire following damage due to infestation of Chakada (brown plant-hopper) at Adra village under Tarabha block in Sonepur district on Sunday.

One Sahadev Karmi had reportedly sown paddy on his five acres of farmland after borrowing money from some people and a loan from bank. Outbreak of brown plant hopper shattered his expectations of a good crop. To top it, the pesticides recommended by experts, which he used in half acres of land did not prove fruitful.

Later when he apprised the officials of district agriculture department and local administration about his ordeal, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Following the development, an irate Sahadev along with some of his friends and family members torched his standing crops protesting government's ignorance towards the issue.

Sahadev who is now very concerned over how to repay his debts, alleged, “I had sown paddy in five acres of land, of which, half acres was attacked by Chakada. I approached the concerned government officials but they did not pay heed to my concern. That’s when I lost hopes and set the crop on fire."

Asked about the incident, district deputy director of Agriculture department, Santosh Kumar Jena, on the other hand, claimed that infestation of the pest is under control.

“We have controlled the Chakada menace in the area apart from some stray fields where the water got stagnated. Our officials are looking into the matter. Besides, we are taking all efforts to completely bring down the Chakada attack this year,” said Jena.

Earlier on November 6, a farmer of Chulimal village in Binika area of the district had also set his crops on fire after suffering losses due to lack of irrigation.