For the protection of Kharif crop, 'Roka-Chheka Abhiyan' to be launched this year as well | 10 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On July 7, 2023, the Agriculture Department of Chhattisgarh has directed all the Collectors and Chief Executive Officers of Zilla Panchayats to 'stop' in the villages till July 17, according to the local conditions, to control the animals grazing in the open and to protect the Kharif crops from them. Guidelines have been issued to run 'Chheka Abhiyan'.

Key Points:

• In the instructions issued by the Agriculture Department, it has been said that like last year, arrangements should be made according to the practice of Roka-Chheka. For this, a meeting should be organized at the village level by July 17 by running a Roka-Chheka campaign according to the local situation. Along with this, pastures should be established in all the constructed Gauthans before 30th July. Where there is fodder production.
• Officials have been asked to organize meetings at the village level under the Roka-Chheka campaign, in which the decision to save crops from animals will be taken by the village sarpanch, panch, public representatives and villagers as per the practice of 'Roka Chheka'.
• In order to save the crop from grazing, instructions have also been given to bring animals to Gothan regularly, to organize Munadi in every Gothan village and to organize veterinary and health camps in Gothans.
• In the issued instructions, under the 'Roka Chheka' practice, it has also been asked to organize a meeting of the Gothan Management Committee for proper arrangements for the management and maintenance of animals in Gothans. Instructions have been given to ensure the active participation of the members by amending the committee with the approval of the minister in-charge, as per the approval of the in-charge minister in such Gothans.
• It may be noted that this year also, a Roka-Chheka campaign is being started to control the animals grazing in the open and to protect the Kharif crops from them. Roka-Chheka is an old tradition of Chhattisgarh.
• On the initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, it has been started in the state as a campaign, which has yielded very encouraging results. Keeping this in mind, this campaign is being run again in the state during the current year.
• It is worth mentioning that in the state of Chhattisgarh, the 'Roka Chheka' practice is prevalent for the control of animals grazing in the open before sowing of Kharif crops, in which to promote crop sowing and to protect the crop from loss due to grazing of animals. Arrangements for Pahatiya (Charwaha) etc. are done by the cattle rearers and the villagers to keep the animals tied. With this effort, not only farmers are able to do sowing work quickly, but they are also motivated to take another crop.