Untimely rain, adverse weather conditions perturb paddy farmers in Cuttack

Local paddy farmers are battling to protect their produce as incessant rain coupled with unfavourable weather conditions continue to prevail in Chhotinatara village under Salepur block in Cuttack district, sources said on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the situation remains tense as farmers strive to mitigate the risks posed to their livelihoods. Dense fog, cold weather, and rainfall activities were witnessed in the block early in the morning.

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“Our produce will get entirely damaged after it sprouts. What shall we do with the drenched paddy? Neither the Government will procure it nor we will be able to consume the crop thereafter,” an elderly farmer from Chhotinatara village said. 

“The harvested paddy has started sprouting and those in the farmlands have got damaged. With no choice left with us, we are hurriedly carrying the crop to our houses. We shall have to feed our families with whatever remains with us,” the old man lamented.

“It has been like a double whammy for us. We are helpless and only God can save us from this state of peril,” another farmer from the village expressed.

Worth mentioning, paddy cultivation in Kalahandi district was severely affected due to an unseasonal spell of rain that occurred on Sunday. With paddy mandis yet to be opened, local farmers are in utter distress and many of them expressed their anguish.

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The local farmers began harvesting their paddy crops on November 29 and were in the process of drying them. Drying the crop ahead of procurement is essential to maintain the requisite level of moisture.

The harvesting is still underway in some places. However, the untimely rain has disrupted these efforts, submerging hectares of farmland. Harvested paddy as well as those in the farmlands has been severely impacted.