Bhubaneswar,Dec. 28: The Odisha Government has submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India seeking assistance of Rs 1534.82 crore under different heads to tide over the drought situation in the state.
Due to erratic rainfall and moisture stress condition, there was crop loss (mainly paddy) in some pockets of the state. District Collectors were directed to conduct joint field enquiry through the field functionaries of the State Agriculture and Revenue Departments and submit report.
The field enquiry was conducted under the active supervision of the district-level officers and as per the reports received from the Collectors, the State Government has declared an area of 324590.8 hectares in 6389 villages under 70 Blocks and 101 wards of 19 ULBs of 9 districts as drought affected having sustained crop loss of 33% and above during Kharif-2018 and authorised the Collectors to undertake relief measures in the notified area.