TV
With cracks appearing in parched paddy fields and no signs of consistent rainfall, farmers in Odisha’s Puri district are battling a severe agricultural crisis. In desperation, some have resorted to performing ‘Indra Yajna’, a traditional ritual to appease the rain god while others have started pumping water from ponds and canals to save their crops.
In Nanpur village under Jhadalanga panchayat of Astaranga block, farmers recently gathered at the local temple to perform Indra Puja, praying for rain. The sound of conch shells and ritual chants echoed across the area as villagers installed a pot symbolising Lord Indra on the dry fields.
“There is a saying that if there is no rain in the Shravan month, farmers suffer loss. As Lord Indra is God of rain, we organised a puja for him,” said Brundaban Nayak, organizer of the puja.
“We perform Indra Puja and hopeful that it will bring rain,” said a local.
Puri district normally receives around 311 mm of rainfall in July, but this year it recorded only 134 mm rain. Astaranga block fared even worse with just 92 mm. Despite significant expenditure on canal desilting, many irrigation channels remain dry, leaving vast stretches of farmland, especially lowlands, cracked and barren.
While a few farmers with access to pump sets have managed to irrigate their fields, thousands of hectares remain uncultivated due to water scarcity. The situation is no better in Brahmagiri block, where paddy seedlings have begun to wilt, and in some places, cattle have started grazing on the drying fields.
Farmers from areas like Revana, Nuagaon, Kamada, and Mahala are demanding that the government declare the region drought-hit and provide immediate assistance. Many claim they have invested heavily in seeds and fertilisers but are now facing ruin.
“All are saplings have damaged as there is no rain. There is no LI point. There is no help for us,” alleged Narahari Pradhan, a farmer.
Commenting on the development, Nimapada agriculture officer Priyabrata Prusti said, “A depression is predicted around August 8 and we are hopeful that it will bring rain. We have informed the farmers to insure their crops.”
When approached, the local agriculture officer in Brahmagiri reportedly declined to speak on camera, citing a 2019 government circular. He added that farmers have been advised to insure their crops under government schemes, indirectly shifting responsibility away from the department.
As uncertainty looms, distressed farmers wait anxiously for either rain or a swift government response to avert a larger agricultural disaster.
