Umerkote: Severe unseasonal thunderstorms that ensued under the influence of the westerly winds has destroyed swathes of maize cultivation here in Nabarangpur district just ahead of its harvest. The crop loss has dealt a major blow to the farmers as they were expecting good returns by selling maize. This has pushed the farmers into distress as they ponder how to repay the loans they had taken to raise the crops and manage family expenses. Fed up over the crop loss, farmers have warned to commit suicide if the state government does not come to their rescue and provide them with financial assistance. They now stare at a bleak future as they do not have any other means of livelihood except cultivation.
Sources said that Umerkote block received 64.20 mm of rainfall as well as hailstorms during the unseasonal rainfall in the last two days. With the wind blowing heavily during the thunderstorms, the entire maize harvest was destroyed. Houses and properties in Umerkote block also suffered damages. Farmers in Murtuma, Chilkalpadar, Beheda, Khadka, Silati, and Benra areas had grown maize on their farmlands. However, the thunderstorm razed the maize cultivation to dust. The calamity came at a time when fruits had just started appearing on the plants and the farmers were preparing to harvest their crops after a month.
However, the thunderstorm destroyed all their hopes and drove them to the streets, they alleged. A farmer alleged that they had to spend around Rs 22,000 to Rs 25,000 to raise the maize crops on farmlands having irrigation facilities during this rabi season. They had borrowed the amount but the calamity destroyed all their hopes. They alleged that not a single official from Agriculture and Revenue department has met them to make an assessment of crop loss while they are yet to get any financial assistance for last year’s crop loss. They warned they will die by mass suicides if they are meted out similar treatment this year. When contacted, chief district agriculture officer Bijay Kumar Pattnaik confirmed the development stating that crop loss has occurred in four blocks of the district. He said that the department officials have rushed to the affected areas to make an assessment of the losses suffered by farmers. He said he will recommend the Odisha government for providing financial assistance as per norms after receiving the reports on crop loss in the affected blocks.
