Development news of orissa and India

IMC Bureau

As many as 41 hatchlings of Estuarine crocodile  on Saturday emerged  from  the eggs of  salt water crocodile which were hatched   artificially at Crocodile  Breeding and Research  center in  Dangamal within Bhitarkanika National park ,informed Durga Charan Sahu, the Ranger of Kanika Forest Ranger.

According Sahu, the Bhitarkanika forest officials have recently  sighted at least 50 nests in the rivulets,water inlets, creeks and  nullahs under  Kanika range of  Bhitarkanika National park. The forest officials have also collected 89 eggs from the nests to hatch it in the crocodile breeding and research center at Dangamala.

Every year some eggs were collected from the wild nests and the eggs were incubated in captivity under semi-natural conditions. The hatchlings reared for three years and then released into the wild . By way of ‘rear & release’ technique, the baby crocs after birth are released in the wild as a part of conservation programme of these endangered species,added the Ranger of Kanika Forest Range

Notably ,the Government of India/FAO/UNDP  project crocodile Breeding and Management begun from a proposal for the development of a crocodile farming industry in India following the report of the first working meeting of the IUCN /SSC crocodile Specialists Groups in 1971 which had mentioned in general about the depleting status of the crocodiles in India. Dr. H.R.Bustard (an FAO expert on crocodile breeding & management ) had paid a visit to Bhitarkanika in May-June 1974. The all India Survey reported that a small population still existed in the Brahmani-Baitarani- and a few individual still existed in Sundarbans of West Bengal ,while in the other states the reptiles population had been dwindling.  Based on the report of Dr. Bustard the actual project was undertaken by the government of India through its concerned state government from 1st April ,1975 with Dr. Bustard as Chief Technical advisor. In the country, Odisha had got the privilege  to start and implement the project in a meaningful manner as the state had the privilege of having all the three species of Indian crocodiles. The three species are Gharial, muggar and Estuarine crocodile.

The Salt water Crocodile Research & conservation project at Dangamal had begun with an aim to protect the remaining natural population in their natural habitat ,to increase natural population of the crocodiles , to promote captive breeding and to involve the locals for guarding the species and their ecological balance in which the reptiles depend on ,added the DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove and Wildlife Division , P.K.Behera .

Behera , the DFO, stated that  the Salt water crocodile’s Research & conservation project had been implemented on last July,1975. A wild nest was spotted  in the Kalibhanjdiha island inside the sanctuary area in the  year 1975. The 25 croc eggs, which were laid in the wild,  were collected from the site by the forest officials and it were hatched into the hatchery of Dangamala Research & conservation centre. Later, 24 hatchlings were emerged from the eggs including a partial albino ‘Gori’.

Akhand in Bhubaneswar(IMC):

Several farmers and their organizations in Orissa have expressed deep concern and anxiety over the inaction of the State Government over Seeds Bill -2010. Mr.Sharad Pawar had a meeting with MPs of Andhra Pradesh and a few others on the Seeds Bill in New Delhi on the 28th of July. The MPs from the Andhra Pradesh demanded a price regulatory mechanism so that seeds are available to farmers at affordable prices and not left to “market forces.” The Andhra Pradesh delegation gave the example of Bt cotton seeds that were introduced in the country at high prices and were lowered on orders of the State High Court.

However, the Union Agriculture Minister did not accept the suggestions given by several farmer organisations, civil society organisations and Andhra Pradesh Government on price regulation by the state Government.

The Government of Orissa was not represented in this meeting Mr.Pawar had also said that no states except Andhra Pradesh has expressed its concern.

According to a reliable sources it seems the Government of Orissa is not able to write to the centre as it is yet to receive a letter from the government of India  seeking its views on the Seeds Bill -2010. Several farmer organisations in the state are wondering whether the centre had written only to Andhra Pradesh government and not to Orissa on this matter? Why the Government of Orissa needs a letter from the centre to express its stand on a bill which has a serious bearing on the farmers in the Orissa asks –Ratnakar Sahoo, a farmer from Bolangir. Orissa has witnessed farmer suicides due to ever increasing farm inputs cost. Are we not a self respecting state who has responsibility to assert its constitutional right as agriculture is a state subject ? asks another farmer from Sundargarh.

One of the important components of any regulation should be seed price control since the seed sector right now attracts many players for the profit-making opportunities it presents whereas Seed is an Essential Commodity and should be treated as such. it becomes imperative to bring in a legislation that will regulate commercial seed trade in India

The Seeds Bill 2010 is likely to be tabled in the Parliament within next two days. It is in this context it is hoped that the Agriculture Minister,Dr.Damodar Rout  who has so far taken a stand against GM cops to protect farmers interest will immediately write to the Central Government to assert their constitutional rights to register locally suitable seeds, to issue licenses, to regulate prices of seeds being sold in the state, monitor and fix liability etc.as agriculture is a state subject”. We do hope the Agriculture Minister and / the state government will not contribute to aggravate the existing farmers crisis in the state says Natabar Sarangi, a organic rice farmer from Cuttack district.