Rain wreaks havoc in S Odisha, crop loss assessment begins

BHUBANESWAR: Standing crops in thousands of hectares of agricultural land were destroyed as the farm lands were submerged in rain water due to incessant rains during last four days in southern part of the State, especially Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada, in the effect of the cyclonic storm Nilam. The Revenue officials with Agriculture officials have started assessing the crop loss in affected areas of the three districts.

The heavy rainfall washed away the standing crop and in some places it was submerged in the water as the farmers were all set to harvest their ripen paddy. Some of the farmers had cut the ripening paddy, but could not pick up the harvest due to the incessant rain.

The areas like Bhanjanagar, Aska, Ganjam, Belaguntha and Polasara in Ganjam district were worst affected due to the heavy rain fall. The vegetable crops in the areas of Ganjam, Purusottampur and on the outskirts of Brahmapur city were also affected in the continuous rain. “We had a high hope for a good yield this year, but the untimely rain shattered it all. The rotten paddy would not serve our purpose, because that would not be purchased in a standard rate and we will not be able to refund our loans due to the loss,” said Pradip Swain of Gobara area under Bhanjanagar block.

Similarly, rain wrecked havoc in Gajapati and Rayagada district. Most of the farmers were about to harvest the ripen paddy, but the heavy rainfall destroyed it over hundreds of acres of land in Rayagada, while in Gajapati, most of the paddy fields which inundated in the water have been rotten in the field.

Officials of the three districts admitted the huge damage of standing crops in the areas of their districts. They have started assessing the crop loss and after the completion of their crop loss assessment, they would submit the final report, said a senior officer.