Berhampur/Nayagarh/Bolangir: Severe cyclonic storm Michaung-induced rainfall has caused extensive crop damage in Odisha bringing in a sense of hopelessness among thousands of farmers who hoped for bountiful harvest this season, sources said Thursday.
The effects of cyclone Michaung have severely hit southern Odisha districts – especially Ganjam. As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chatrapur received 41.3mm and Gopalpur recorded 42mm rainfall as on Wednesday evening.
A source said that a large amount of harvested crops were submerged in water as the crops were lying in fields.
The source informed that around 1.79 lakh hectares of land was cultivated in Ganjam district, out of which about 20 per cent of paddy crop was harvested before the cyclone. Another 80 per cent of the standing crop is on the verge of losing its quality. It is feared that the harvested paddy lying in fields will be destroyed due to the rains caused by the cyclone.
Ahead of the cyclone, the district agriculture department of Ganjam had advised the farmers to take adequate measures to protect the crop. However, it has not been possible to shift the entire harvested paddy to safe places in such a short span.
It can be mentioned here that cultivation began late in various blocks of Ganjam district due to late arrival of monsoon. While farmers were staring at a drought, irrigation facilities at some of the places provided a ray of relief. However, the untimely rains have shattered farmer’s hopes, the source added.
When contacted, Ganjam Chief Agriculture Officer Subrata Kumar Sahu said that a survey is underway to prepare a report on areas where the paddy crop has been damaged due to recent rains.
On the other hand, farmers have demanded government support in the backdrop of widespread crop loss.
The winter rains due to cyclone Michaung have not only affected southern Odisha but also brought tears to the eyes of farmers from western Odisha districts. Incessant rains since Tuesday night in Khaprakhol block of Bolangir district have added to the woes of farmers, another source said.
Farmers like Bimal Sahu, Dhanurdhar Pradhan, Debarchan Pradhan, Panchanan Pradhan, Jitu Nag from Bender panchayat said that their paddy fields were soaked in water while the standing crops were still being harvested.
According to a source from Bolangir, in Lathor village, as many as 1,200 farmers had cultivated paddy in around 2,000 hectares and more than 1,000 farmers had sown cotton seeds this year. The farmers, however, could not protect the paddy and cotton crops due to lack of ancillary arrangements.
The farmers, who had borrowed money are now worried about loss of their crops.
Jati Pradhan, president of the District Farmers’ Federation, demanded compensation from the state government after assessing damages.
When contacted, Block Agriculture Officer Santosh Kumar Meher said that the harvested crops may have been affected. The damage would be assessed and the higher authorities would be informed.
‘Dryness followed by untimely rains’
Similarly, months of hard work by farmers have gone under water amid Cyclone Michaung-induced rainfall in Nayagarh district.
A source informed that both paddy and vegetable crops have been affected by unseasonal rain.
Take the case of Rabi Sahu — a farmer from Odagaon tehsil — who said, “Many farmers in Odagaon saved their crops by irrigation during drought-like situations early in the Kharif season this year. However, the rain during the harvest has discouraged me. Though there is no waterlogging in the fields, the paddy was drenched in rain which will affect the quality of harvest.”
Farmers who cultivated cauliflower, beans, peas, tomatoes, and cabbages have also suffered huge losses from unseasonal rains.
Pitabasa Nayak — a vegetable farmer from Nuagaon — says lack of rainfall combined with unseasonal heavy showers have hit the farmers hard in his place. Due to lack of local produce, the traders in markets would bring in vegetables from other places and that would increase the prices, he added.
The government should look into the problems faced by the farmers and extend a helping hand, Nayak suggested.
Notably, vegetables such as bitter gourd, bottle gourd, cabbage, cauliflower, groundnut, pointed gourd, ridge gourd, brinjal, tomato, and many more are harvested in Odisha at the end of the Kharif season.
PNN