The Department of Agriculture had actively been monitoring the various agricultural activities during the three phases of lockdown to ensure that the farming operations during the Rabi harvest and kharif onset are not hampered. However, reports were received from the field officers of the impact of heavy rains, thunder squall and hailstorms leading to field crop damages, reoccurrences of FAW (Fall Army Worm) causing mild to severe infestation in standing crops.

According to the Director of Agriculture, M.Ben Yanthan, the department plans to tour the districts during May itself, to get a firsthand knowledge by interacting with the district and sub divisional officers; functionaries and farmers friend with field visits to severely damaged and affected farmers field. The officers led by a Joint Director Agriculture as team leader andDeputy Director Agriculture    will move out to the district/s after finding suitable dates to visit from the district headquarter officers concerned.

The purpose of the visit is to mobilize the extension personals in motivating the farmers to cultivate all the potential areas under paddy and to extend farm areas into alternate farming systems for doubling income. Furthermore, encourage farmers to increase seed replacement rate by growing suitable HYV’s and promising TLS. In addition, create more awareness on the PM-KISAN regarding fund released to them from PMO to be utilised only for Agriculture purposes besides appraising on the Agricultural safety measures to be followed during their field activities and mobility.

A comprehensive report with need based interventions and further actions that would be worked out to support the farming communities for way forward.

(DIPR)