Kalahandi farmers demand subsidy, insurance

Bhawanipatna (Odisha), Aug 29 ( PTI) The farmers ofKalahandi district today demanded immediate release ofagricultural input subsidy and crop insurance for thedrought affected peasants. Kalahandi Krushak Sangharsa Samiti brought out a rallyin this district headquarters town and staged a demonstrationin front of DRDA office of Bhawanipatna. Farmer representatives from different parts of thedistrict participated in the rally. The demonstration was ledby the district convenor of the Samiti, Niranjan Bidrohi. The demonstrators alleged that most of the farmershave not received crop insurance and other benefits forthe last kharif season. The district had witnessed severe drought during thiskharif season, they said. "We demand early payment of crop insuranceand input subsidy for the drought affected for the last kharifseason and payment of Rs 100 bonus per quintal of paddy asdeclared by state government," said Bidrohi. They also demanded that water for irrigation bereleased early to Bhawanipatna sub-division through theextended canal of Indravati project and for early operation ofleft canal of Indravati project under construction to irrigatenon-irrigated areas under Koksara and Dharamgarh blocks. They also demanded early completion of Ret Mediumirrigation project. Reports reaching here said the farmers of Deogarhand Jharsuguda district also held similar demonstration intheir regions. PTI COR AAM KKKK