Cyclone Midhili causes loss to farmers, AKIS demands settlement
Cyclone Midhili causes loss to farmers, AKIS demands settlement
Agartala: After Cyclone Midhili wreaked havoc in Tripura, the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has stepped up its call for compensation to help more than one lakh farmers who have suffered substantial losses.
An AIKS delegation met Sharadindu Das, director of agriculture, Tripura, on November 20 to stress the urgent need to tackle the dire situation.
AIKS Secretary Pabitra Kar, representing the delegation, presented a comprehensive five-point charter of demand aimed at redressing the plight of the affected farmers.
According to Kar, untimely rains and storms have caused significant damage to crops, including vegetables, raising fears of possible shortages in the state’s markets, thus creating a potential crisis for both farmers and consumers.
“We have demanded the state agriculture department stand by the farmers at this critical moment,” stated Kar, emphasizing the need for immediate action to mitigate the impact on the agricultural community.
The five-point demands put forth by AIKS include the formation of a special team by the agriculture department to expeditiously assess farmers’ losses, immediate financial assistance for affected farmers to support the cultivation of seasonal paddy and vegetables, financial aid from the Disaster Management Fund, provision of all agricultural support (seeds, essential fertilizers, pesticides) free of cost, free provision of all irrigation facilities, and the implementation of LI and DWT schemes.
Kar expressed dissatisfaction with the Meteorological Department in Agartala, accusing it of issuing an irresponsible bulletin. He also placed blame on the State Agriculture Department for failing to prevent the significant damage caused by the Midhili Cyclone and subsequent rains.
“With paddy harvesting underway, farmers in the state have suffered massive losses in agricultural crops due to untimely rains. Vegetable cultivation has been completely destroyed,” asserted Kar, noting the widespread water crisis resulting from a damaged power system across the state.
