Berhampur: Paddy farmers in Ganjam district were deeply concerned following unseasonal rain on Friday, triggered by Cyclone Fengal. The rain, according to farmers, damaged standing paddy crops in Chikiti, Digapahandi and Chhatrapur blocks. Farmers who had gathered their harvest in the yards after cutting were equally worried as the Met department issued a yellow warning, forecasting light to very light rainfall in the district till December 3. Many farmers were seen covering their harvested crops to prevent further loss.
As far as the rainfall figures on Friday are concerned, Chikiti block recorded the highest at 46mm, followed by Chhatrapur (16.6mm), Ganjam (15.4mm), Hinjili (13mm) and Patrapur (11mm). “If the rain continues, all hopes for a bumper crop would be shattered,” said Simanchal Nahak, secretary of Rushikulya Raita Mahasangh, an organisation representing farmers.
Official reports highlighted that paddy was cultivated in approximately 1.79 lakh hectares during the kharif season in Ganjam district. Of this, about 30% of the crop had already been harvested and stored in safer places, as per official sources.
R N Panda, chief district agriculture officer (CDAO), acknowledged the concerns but offered reassurance. “The rain which lashed on Friday was very light. If the rain continues, there will be chances of crop damage,” he said, adding that while Chikiti received the highest rainfall, farmers in the block had largely been spared major losses, having already secured their crops.
The CDAO added, “There was no damage to the paddy crop in the district due to the Friday rain. Field visits conducted on Saturday morning confirmed this assessment.”