The rain has proven to be a curse for farmers in both coastal and interior districts, striking at the peak of the harvest season. Representational file image.
| Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
Incessant rain, driven by a low-pressure area, has left agricultural lands in Odisha waterlogged, submerging ready-to-harvest paddy crops which has dashed farmers’ hopes of earning ₹3,100 per quintal of paddy for the first time in the Kharif season.
The State has received widespread rain across majority of districts after low pressure area over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal became well-marked and turned depression.
“The depression over westcentral Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast moved east[1]northeastwards with the speed of 12 kmph during past six hours and lay centred over the westcentral Bay of Bengal, about 430 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 480 km east-northeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 590 km south- of Gopalpur (Odisha),” says an IMD bulletin.
It informs, “the system is likely to move slowly east[1]northeastwards maintaining its intensity as a depression for next 12 hours and weaken gradually thereafter over the Sea. Light to moderate rainfall has occurred at many places over the districts of Odisha with Heavy Rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Ganjam district.”
As per IMD, the chief amount of rainfall was measured at 110 mm at Ranpur (Nayagarh district), 80 mm at Begunia (Khordha), Berhampur (Ganjam) and Jatni (Khordha). Districts such as Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Rayagada have received heavy unseasonal rain due to the atmospheric system.
The rain has proven to be a curse for farmers in both coastal and interior districts, striking at the peak of the harvest season. With their fields partially submerged, farmers are struggling to salvage their ready-to-harvest paddy. The situation is further worsened as muddy conditions make it impossible to bring harvesting machines into the fields.
“We were expecting a bumper crop this season, The announcement of a nearly ₹1,000 per quintal increase in the minimum support price had raised farmers’ hopes for a windfall. However, unseasonal rains have poured cold water on these expectations. The excess rainwater is likely to discolor the paddy, making it unsuitable for acceptance at the market yards,” said Santosh Swain, a farmer in Jagatsingpur district.
Similarly, farmers in western Odisha districts faced uncertainty as the paddy they had brought to market yards after harvest was exposed to rain.
“After the rain, the government will assess the extent of crop damage. The rain has affected standing crops in the fields. To minimise losses, we had provided adequate polythene covers to protect paddy stocked at various market yards, reducing the chances of harvested crops getting wet,” said Pradeep Bal Samanta, State Co-Operation Minister.
The tough times for farmers persist as the IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall in several districts of coastal Odisha. Meanwhile, sporadic showers are expected in Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Koraput.
Published – December 22, 2024 01:56 am IST