AGITATED FARMERS

Demonstration demanding compensation to farmers

Demanding compensation to the affected farmers whose crops were suffering from rice smut, the peasant wing of the Forward Bloc, Agragami Kisan Sabha, demonstrated at the sub-divisional agricultural office in Dinhata today. Senior leaders like Mr Nripendra Nath Roy, Mr Sankar Dutta and Mr Buddhananda Roy led the programme.

It may be recalled here that the farmers of Nagar Bhangni village in Dinhata blazed their paddy crops in the fields yesterday as the rice corns of Boro cultivation affected by smut.

An aggrieved grower, Md Habibur Mian, who blazed his paddy cultivation yesterday, said, they bought two brands of paddy seeds – Parashmani and Nayantara – from the market. They expected a good harvest but the paddy got affected by smut, he said.

Another affected grower, Md Saiyad Mian said the government couldn't get away from the situation avoiding its responsibility, as the seeds that they purchased were available in open market.

District agriculture office sources in Cooch Behar said that concerned agricultural officers were asked to inquire into the matter. The seeds purchased from the market were non-notified and the climatic condition was not good for paddy cultivation. These two reasons may have caused the rice corns affected by smut, a senior official said. About compensation to the farmers he said it was up to the higher authorities to decide. 

PHOTO : Forward Bloc leader Mr Nripendra Nath Roy addresses at a demonstration organised by Agragami Kisan Sabha at sub-divisional agriculture office in Dinhata on Monday.