Berhampur: Unseasonal rains have caused significant damage to crops in Ganjam district, affecting farmers who were already in the harvest phase of the paddy season.
The district experienced an average of 48.43 mm and 13.17 mm of rainfall on Friday and Saturday, respectively, while 2.3 mm fell on Thursday. On December 2, the district also experienced 7.18 mm of rain, sources said. As a result, both harvested paddy stocks and standing crops were affected, particularly those stored in fields for processing.
Paddy was cultivated in 1.79 lakh hectares during the last kharif season in the district, sources said. “Farmers who harvested the crop and stocked it in the field for processing, as well as the standing crops at the time of harvest, were affected due to the untimely rains,” said Simanchal Nahak, secretary of Rushikulya Rait Mahasabha, a farmers’ organisation.
Several farmers also demanded compensation for their loss of crops during the visit of the state’s commerce and transport minister, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, in Rangeilunda block to take stock of the situation. He visited several villages and discussed with the farmers.
Meanwhile, the district administration deferred its earlier plan on the procurement of the paddy due to the untimely rains. The administration had earlier fixed to start the procurement of paddy from Monday and now decided to reschedule it to January 3, sources said.
The district administration has begun assessing the damage, which is estimated to affect around 10,000 hectares, and will submit a report within seven days.