Bargarh: The farmers of Bargarh district resorted to an unprecedented step of setting fire to their crop as the authorities remained indifferent to large-scale pest attack. It has added a new dimension to the farm sector crisis in the State as the farmers, already reeling under crop loss due to deficit rainfall, have been resorting to the extreme step of committing suicide regularly from the district.

The attack by Brown Plant Hopper Pest (BPHP) was first noticed in Resham village of Bheden block couple of days back and it spread to Bisipali under Barpali block. Pests were also noticed on crops in Kalapani and Dang villages, both under Bargarh block.

According to sources, the pesticides supplied by the Agriculture Department were of no use for the farmers as those had expired the date. The farmers said pest attack is assuming an alarming proportion and crops in thousands of acres of land are wilting away. After the pest attack, paddy plants are left with only empty straws and no stalks. The Agriculture Department and local administration are yet to initiate remedial measures, they alleged.

Brunda Sahu of Kalapani village had cultivated paddy in eight acres of land which was affected by BPHP. Dejected, he set fire to the crops on half an acre of land on Tuesday. He alleged that though he had requested the Revenue Inspector to assess his crop loss, the latter refused to do so. Cash starved, he decided to set fire to the crop field to register his protest. Similarly, Saroj Bhoi of Dang set the remains of his crop on fire to lodge his protest against administrative inaction.

According to reports from Gaisama village under Bargarh block, Tusamani Mohapatra and P Shankar set their crop on fire in presence of Bargarh Tehsildar (I/c) Daulat Chandrakar during his visit to the village on Tuesday to register their protest over crop loss due to pest attack. Both the farmers said they were forced to take the step to draw the attention of of the State Government to the plight of farmers and inaction of the authorities concerned.

Later, the villagers forcibly took the Tehsildar to the farm land affected by the pest attack. The agitated farmers were pacified after the Tehsildar assured them of submitting a report to appropriate authorities with request for adequate compensation to the affected farmers.

Officially, crop loss has been reported in 10 out of 12 blocks comprising 182 gram panchayats covering an area of 91,317.87 hectares due to scanty rainfall. Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout has directed for an inquiry into the loss.

Contacted, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Naba Kishore Das said about 11,000 hectares of crops have been damaged due to pest attack. Attributing it to adverse weather condition, he said the pest attack is not only confined to Bargarh as it has been reported from across the State. He added that a survey would be undertaken and crop loss assessment done before a report is submitted to the State Government.