Bahanaga/Bhadrak: Amid forecast of more rains in the next 24 hours, the agriculture department has started assessing crop damage even as farmers have lost hopes of harvest in Bahanaga, Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks of Balasore and several blocks in Bhadrak.
Agriculture department officials are on their toes and Thursday made field visits in Bahanaga block.
According to reports, farmers had cultivated paddy in 18,108 hectares of land in Bahanga block this year and were happy over prospects of good harvest, but the low pressure-triggered rain dashed their hopes as ripe paddy has been soaking in rainwater for the last two days in panchayats like Dandaharipur, Baripada, Aruhabad, Gopalpur, Anji, Kharasahapur, Talakurunia, Kochiakoili, Chitala, Khantapada and Kasapaljaypur.
Nabin Roula, a farmer of Karanjabindha village, said, “Paddy was ready for reaping, but the rain played havoc with the crop. Standing crops have been flattened while paddy in water-logged fields will germinate soon.”
Shibaprasad Behera of Talakaranjabindha, said paddy in five acres of land has been soaking in rainwater and will soon sprout.
Several other farmers also expressed their helplessness over the situation.
Additional agriculture officer of Bahanaga block Pradipta Kumar Das said at many places, standing crops have flattened.
“Two teams of agriculture officers visited the affected areas in Bahanaga and a preliminary report will be submitted to the government,” Das said.
Ripe paddy has been under rainwater in hectares of land in Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks.
Some of the affected panchayats are Sardarbandh, Shyamnagar, Raibania, Khudiamajhisahi, Chamargan, Kalik, Rajpur, Rayaramchandrapur, Aruha, Sugo, Nachhimpur and Netua in Jaleswar; and Balim, Nahara, Kamarda, Nachinda, Kusuda, Baunsadiha and Putina in Bhograi block.
Reports from Bhadrak said farmers in Banta, Chandbali, Dhamnagar and Tihidi blocks have been badly affected by the unseasonal rain.
Farmers in Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district were also worried over the same problem. PNN