KARIMGANJ, June 11 � Altogether 21,597 families engaged in farming activities were affected by the first wave of floods during April. According to the Karimganj district agriculture department, 82 villages were affected by the last wave of floods in North Karimganj where the number of affected families stood at 4,282 and 366 hectares of Boro paddy and 176 hectares of vegetables were submerged by the flood waters.
In areas falling under the Nilambazar revenue circle, 277 hectares of Boro paddy and 106 hectares of vegetables were inundated and 2,557 families of 63 villages were affected.
In areas falling under the Patherkandi revenue circle, 3,665 families of 77 villages have been affected where Boro paddy in 96 hectares and 195 hectares of vegetables were damaged by the last floods.
The worst affected areas were those falling under the Ramkrishnanagar revenue circle. A total of 9,598 families of 59 villages were affected and 3,496 hectares of Boro paddy and 570 hectares of vegetables were completely damaged by floods.
As many as 1,555 farming families in different areas falling in 57 villages under the Badarpur revenue circle were affected and 311 hectares of Boro paddy and 30 hectares of vegetables were damaged.
The agriculture department distributes agricultural implements almost every year at subsidised rates under various schemes. Under the Assam Bikash Yojana eleven tractors and seventeen power tillers were distributed in 2007-08 and forty tractors were provided for the period 2008-09.
Under the RKVY, twenty-six power tillers were distributed for the period 2008-09. Under the Stall Priority Sector Scheme, six tractors and seventy power tillers were given away in 2006-07 while eight tractors and 101 power tillers were distributed in the period 2007-08.
During the period 2009-10 seeds were distributed among the farmers under CRF programme as compensatrion against drought.
