‘No relief yet’: Farmers in Odisha’s Udala await PMFBY support after heavy crop loss

Farmers in Udala block of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district are facing severe losses as pests have ravaged their paddy fields just as harvest season approached. Villages including Kochiladih, Radho, and Khaladi have reported widespread crop damage, leaving farmers helpless and deeply distressed.

Farmers, who had taken loans from banks and other sources to cultivate their fields, had high hopes after a promising crop season. Whether it was rain or drought, we nurtured the crop with care, only to see it destroyed by pests, said one distressed farmer. The golden harvest, painstakingly cultivated over months, has been ruined, leaving fields bare and farmers anxious about repaying loans.

‘Brown Plant Hopper Destroying Crops’

The main culprit is the ‘chakada poka’ (brown plant hopper), an insect that not only damages standing crops but also spoils harvested paddy. Reports indicate that the pest has spread across multiple villages in Kochiladih Panchayat, including Bairatpur, Dhulinda, Kalapahad, Radho, Dihirakul, Mauda, and Pohanda. 

Farmers have warned that without government assistance, some may even consider extreme measures to cope with mounting debts.

“Despite all our efforts, all our produce was ravaged by the pest infestation. No one from Agriculture department has visited us. We have suffered a huge loss. We are left with no option other than ending our lives,” said Srikant Behera, a farmer. 

Swarup Kumar Mohapatra, another farmer, said, “Despite applying all medicines and taking necessary care, pest infestation has ruined our farming. Though I have applied for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) no one has come for an inquiry.”

Agricultural officials acknowledged the severity of the infestation and admitted that relief has yet to reach many affected farmers. Meanwhile, farmers continue to watch helplessly as their hard-earned crops rot in the fields, burdened with loans and lacking immediate support.

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Commenting on the matter, Kartika Chandra Swain, Udala Agriculture Officer, said, “The affected farmers will get all compensation under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.”