Agriculture News

Farmers in Nilagiri block of Balasore district are increasingly turning to marigold cultivation after completing the traditional paddy cycle, using the land during the post-paddy period instead of leaving it fallow. The practice involves cultivating red, yellow, and African varieties of marigold, providing farmers with an additional source of income. According to the report, local farmers have experienced steady and higher profit margins through this multi-crop approach. The shift demonstrates how better seasonal land utilization and crop diversification can help strengthen farm incomes while keeping agricultural land productive throughout the year.

Pramod Kumar Rout, a science lecturer from Soro in Balasore district, has demonstrated how integrated farming can create multiple sources of income from limited land. He transformed a six-acre plot into a profitable integrated farm, combining agriculture and aquaculture as part of a seasonal farming model. His farming system includes Sindhu paddy, mustard, shrimp cultivation, and commercial marigold flower production, allowing the land to support different activities throughout the year. The initiative showcases how crop diversification and integrated farming practices can improve land utilization, strengthen farm income, and offer a promising model for sustainable agriculture in the region.

Farmers in Khantapada market area of Balasore district staged a protest over delays in paddy procurement. Frustrated by token-related problems and delays at local Primary Cooperative Societies, the farmers reportedly placed harvested paddy bags on National Highway-16, disrupting traffic and drawing attention to their difficulties in selling their produce. The farmers said that token lapses and administrative delays had left many of them unable to bring their paddy to procurement centres as scheduled. The protest highlighted concerns over timely procurement and the need for smoother coordination between farmers, cooperative societies, and procurement authorities during the paddy-selling season.

Recurring seasonal floods have affected paddy farming and farmer registration in Baleswar district during the Kharif season. While the overall number of farmers registering for paddy sales increased across Odisha, Baleswar recorded a localized decline, with approximately 301 registered farmers sitting out the registration cycle due to repeated flooding. The recurring floods have disrupted agricultural activities and made it difficult for some farmers to complete the registration process. The situation has raised concerns about the impact of flooding on paddy procurement, farm income, and the livelihoods of affected farming communities in the district.

In early August, massive flooding along the Budhabalanga River in Balasore inundated thousands of hectares of shrimp aquaculture ponds, causing extensive damage to local shrimp farms. Floodwaters disrupted farming operations and resulted in the loss of shrimp stocks and investments made by farmers. With their ponds affected, many shrimp farmers were reportedly forced to conduct premature distress sales of undersized shrimp at low prices to recover at least part of their basic investment costs. The situation has placed significant financial pressure on the aquaculture community, with farmers facing losses from both damaged ponds and reduced returns from their produce.

Heavy flooding has submerged extensive agricultural lands in Nisampur, Remuna block, after overflowing water spread across farmland. The floodwaters have reportedly washed away vegetable crops, leaving fields covered with standing water and debris. Farmers growing pointed gourd, pumpkin, chili, and okra are among those affected. The crop losses have caused significant financial distress for local cultivators, many of whom depend on these vegetable harvests for their livelihoods. The widespread inundation has damaged standing crops and raised concerns about the economic impact on farming communities in the area.

Farmers associated with the Bartana Service Cooperative Society in Khaira block, Balasore, staged protests after alleging that they had received substandard fertilisers at higher-than-expected prices. The issue came to light after concerns were raised about the quality of the fertiliser supplied to farmers, prompting demands for accountability. According to the report, laboratory testing confirmed quality problems with the fertiliser. The protesting farmers have demanded refunds for the affected purchases and formal action against the officials responsible, while the controversy has raised concerns about the quality and distribution of agricultural inputs through cooperative societies.