Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has alerted the chief district agriculture officers (CDAOs) and issued an advisory in view of impending Cyclone ‘Dana’.
The advisory was issued by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Energy Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo at a pre-cyclone emergency meeting of all CDAOs in Bhubaneswar through virtual mode.
Referring the SRC message on Sunday regarding likely formation of low pressure and cyclonic disturbance over Bay of Bengal affecting Odisha coast from October 23 to 25, Singhdeo alerted all the officers and advised them not to panic.
“Be prepared to face all types of challenges due to possible cyclone. All the CDAOs are instructed that no officers will avail any leave during this emergency period, their mobile phone should remain open for 24 hours and control room will function in all CDAO offices and Krushi Bhawan,” he said.
Principal secretary of the department Arabinda Kumar Padhee & Director of Agriculture & Food Production Premchandra Choudhary besides senior officers and all CDAOs attended the meeting.
Speaking on the preparedness of the department, Padhee said all officers have been alerted regarding the cyclone and their leave applications cancelled till October 25. Dissemination of crop management advisory through Krushi Samrudhi helpline and social media prioritising the paddy farmers and coastal districts have been made, he added.
He also informed about the crop contingency plan and seed reserved policy of the department.
The Director of Agriculture & Food Production highlighted the crop status, especially paddy and said harvesting of extra early paddy in 3.20 lakh hectare is mostly completed, while the medium duration paddy is in panicle initiation to flowering stage and late duration paddy is in PI stage.
Harvesting of maize is at harvesting stage and cotton crop is at boll formation stage. Raising of seedling for planting of Rabi vegetables has started. Ragi is at matured stage and at harvesting stage, the director said.