A two-member central team headed by senior scientist Birendra Singh visited Bhograi, Jaleswar, Basta and Baliapal to assess the existing…
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A two-member central team headed by senior scientist Birendra Singh visited Bhograi, Jaleswar, Basta and Baliapal to assess the existing potential to grow pulses in the region.
They interacted with farmers and ascertained their problems. Some of them were growing pulses and the team asked them about foil test and soil cards, methodology and process of cultivation, fertilizers and pesticides used, weeding methods, yield per hectares and market etc.
The farmers alleged that they faced distress sale last year and as a consequent to that effect they had undertaken cultivation in less area this year.
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From 18, 000 hectares they reduced to 10,000 hectares as they didn’t find market to sell their produce.
Exploitation by middlemen and distress sale at Rs 30- Rs 35/kg in the market against MSP Rs 55/kg were issues raised by the farmers.
They further demanded society or agency like things should be provided like Nafed or Markfed to procure their produce, moong, Bengal gram etc.
The main issue raised by the pulses grower was about distress sale in the want of marketing agency which they faced last season.
They urged the team to address their issue.” said the assistant agriculture officer, Basta block, Sanjay Rout adding the farmers had shown the soil testing certificates the team when asked by the latter.
The deputy director agriculture Kailash Chandra Parida, the manager warehouse Sudam Nayak, Yagyandutt Sethi, were among other officials present during the visit.
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