BJP puts farmers issue before Parl panel

BHUBANESWAR: A day after Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought Central intervention to the agrarian crisis arising out of drought and pest menace, the State BJP on Wednesday took up the farmer’s issues with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on agriculture and farmers’ welfare.

A delegation of the party, led by State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty, met chairman of the committee Hukmdev Narayan Yadav, who is on a visit to the State and apprised him about the problems faced by the State’s farmers. The delegation submitted a memorandum to Yadav.

“We discussed about the present crisis the farmers of the State are facing due to drought and pest attack on kharif crops and the State Government’s failure to handle the situation,” Mohanty said.

The delegation further told the panel that eight distressed farmers have taken their lives due to crop loss. The Central assistance provided under Suravi scheme is not reaching the farmers. Farmers are unable to save their crops from pest attack as the insecticide available in the market are sub-standard quality.
“I will look into the matter. If the issue comes within the purview of our committee we will take it up at our level  and call for a meeting of officials concerned of the State and the Centre for a discussion,” said Yadav.