Keonjhar: Incessant rains over the last few days have reportedly spoiled the farmers’ hope for good paddy harvest in many parts of this district.
According to farmers, owing to good rainfall this year, there was chance of good harvest. However, the low pressure-induced rains flattened paddy saplings in hectares of water-logged farms at the time of maturing, they said.
Besides, vegetable cultivation has also been badly affected by the unseasonal rainfall in many pockets, it was learnt.
“About 90 per cent of paddy was set to be harvested after Kali Puja. But the incessant rain along with gusty winds flattened the saplings on farmland. The mature paddy has chances of germinating if it remains soaked in rainwater for days together. And there will be no harvest,” lamented farmers Lambodar Mohant, Goutam Mohant, Jhulu Mohant, Rabindra Behera, Taranisen Sahu, Gurucharan Nayak and Kartikeswar Mahakud.
Cultivation of vegetables like tomato, brinjal, pumpkin, beans, cabbage and cauliflower was also affected by the rainfall. Water remains deposited at the roots of vegetable plants, some farmers said.
Many farmers said vegetable plants have already started wilting and will perish in a few days.
The worst affected areas were Biswanthpur, Banamalipur, Padmapur, Gobardhan, Sendhakap, Sahadapur, Bauripada, Baulamala, Rukunadeipur, Kendua, Bodapalasa, Handibhanga, Kainsi, Kusumula, Khaparakhai, Amuna, Sunapasi, Palashpokhari, Kaunrikala and Jadichatar in Sadar block.
Almost all farmers have borrowed loans from Large Sized Agriculture Multipurpose Societies and banks for paddy and vegetable cultivation. Fearing loss of crop they are spending sleepless nights.
Meanwhile, affected farmers have demanded an immediate assessment of the damage to paddy and vegetable crops and sought expeditious steps for compensation. PNN