Cashew, mango farmers demand assessment of damage in district

Surjit Kumar Dhal,Dhenkanal, May 20: Farmers of Dhenkanal district have urged the State government to assess the damage caused to cashew, mango and vegetables in the district due to extremely severe cyclone Fani on May 3.

They have demanded a team of  agriculture and horticulture officials to make on the spot visits to assess the damage.

They have also resented the low compensation announced for the loss and demaded a hike.

According to sources, many farmers have discarded paddy and grown mangoes in the wake of man-elephants conflict in various parts of the district.

In the district mangoes are grown in 9337 hectres and this year the fruits were supposed to have been harvested in 7000 hectres.

But nearly 90 per cent of mangoes have been destroyed in recent Fani cyclone as assessed by the Horticulture Department.

Even quality mango saplings have been affected in Government’s Saptasajya farm which provides mango saplings to Dhenkanal farmers every year.

Over one lakh  farmers’ families depend on mango.

Similarly cashew was grown in 10,000 hectres . 400 hectres with fruit bearing condition have been adversely affected . As many as five thousand farmers are engaged in the cash crop which has demand  in domestic and international  markets.
Women farmers of Nadiali village recently submitted their demands to the district administration for compensation. They have been growing cashew on 100 acres since 2007.

According to sources, the existing compensation is Rs 12,500 per hectre of loss and a maximum Rs 25,000 can be disbursed for mango, cashew and other fruits.

Deputy Director Horticulture Bhagban Das said he has apprised the State authorities about the loss and received many applications on loss of mangoes and cashew.

Recently a team of officers from state directorate visited some fields in the district and another team will come soon, he said .