State takes steps to ensure support to farmers during unusual rainfall

Kolkata: The state Agriculture department is taking all necessary steps to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience due to unusual rainfall in Birbhum, East Burdwan and a part of Murshidabad district.

The Agriculture department came in touch with other concerned departments in this connection and a meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Birbhum. A meeting for East Burdwan district has already taken place and a similar meeting in Murshidabad district will also be held.

Though the drizzle due to depression since Monday has brought a little respite to the situation, the state government is eyeing a permanent solution and taking all necessary measures in this regard.

According to a senior official of the state Agriculture department, it is always good if the soil remains moist during the harvest of paddy as it ensures a better yield. So steps were taken to extend support to the farmers as soon as unusual rainfall was noticed in different parts of Birbhum, East Burdwan and Murshidabad.

On Wednesday's meeting at Suri in Birbhum, state Agriculture minister Asish Banerjee and Pradip Majumdar, the agriculture advisor to the Chief Minister, will be present in the discussion along with senior representatives from the Zilla Parishad, all the concerned MLAs, senior officials of the state Irrigation department, Power department. It is learnt that the state Irrigation department is leaving no stone unturned to supply water in such areas including Nanoor in Birbhum. The rice mill owners were also directed to supply water from the reservoirs in the mills in such areas and the owners have assured all assistance in this connection.

The official said after identification of such areas, the first step is to create the necessary infrastructure so that farmers do not face any problem and decisions in this regard will be taken in the meeting.

The meeting for Birbhum district is scheduled on Wednesday and a similar one will be held for Murshidabad as well.

However, the schedule of the meeting in Murshidabad district is yet to be finalised.

Banerjee said that the endeavour is to create the infrastructure that will also ensure sufficient supply of water not only for paddy cultivation but for other crops as well. It is learnt that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was also concerned over the situation and directed concerned officials to take measures in this connection.