Sri Vijaya Puram, June 11: Mr. Debabrata Basantia, Director of Agriculture, paid an official visit to Harinagar Gram Panchayat to assess local agricultural needs and interact with Panchayat Raj Institution (PRI) members and local farmers. Upon his arrival, the Director was accorded a warm welcome. Mr. Manojit Halder (Pradhan, GP Harinagar), Mr. Sankar Mondal (Zilla Parishad Member), Mr. Dilip Das (Panchayat Samiti Member), Mr. Anil Baroi (Up-Pradhan, GP Swadesh Nagar), and Mr. Hiranmoy Roy (Ex-Pradhan, GP Harinagar) welcomed him with bouquets. Mrs. Mamata Biswas (Up-Pradhan) honoured the visiting dignitary with a traditional shawl. During the interaction, Pradhan Mr. Manojit Halder submitted a comprehensive list of demands to the Director on behalf of the local farming community: Flood Compensation: Immediate and proper assessment of crop losses caused by the recent floods, followed by timely compensation for affected farmers. Tractor Provision: Deployment of an Agriculture Department tractor to plough paddy fields for the current sowing season. Alternatively, the Pradhan requested official clearance for Harinagar Gram Panchayat to procure a tractor using Panchayat funds. Fertilizer Availability: Ensuring a steady and adequate supply of chemical fertilizers through the local Agriculture Depot. Arecanut Declaration: A joint demand was raised by the Pradhan, PRI members, and local farmers to officially declare Arecanut as an agricultural product in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Director of Agriculture listened intently to the grievances and proposals. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Debabrata Basantia assured the Pradhan, PRI members, and farmers that the department would take immediate and necessary action to address these demands and ensure the welfare of the farming community in the region.
