Cyclone Jawad Impact- Odisha Farmers Stare At Uncertainty Over Massive Crop Loss

Though Cyclone Jawad is set to weaken into a Depression, incessant rainfall continues to lash several parts of the State disrupting normal lives. Above all, it is the farming community that is facing the brunt of the unseasonal rainfall.

The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and the Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT) had issued an advisory for the farmers to harvest 85% ripe paddy in view of expected rainfall triggered by the cyclonic storm and store them in safe places.

The situation triggered massive panic harvest in various parts of the State, however, due to late sowing, crop harvesting has been reportedly largely unsuccessful. As a result, farmers in south, north and coastal belt of the State have predominantly incurred huge losses in the wake of cyclone-triggered rainfall.

Farmers of Udala and Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj now stare at uncertainty following the massive crop damages caused by the unseasonal rainfall. Though some of the farmers were able to harvest the crops, they failed to shift the yield to safer places in due time. The croppers have expressed huge concerns that if the wet conditions continue for a longer period, it would eventually wipe out any chance of break-even in the production of the crops.

"I had taken a loan from the bank for growing paddy. However, unabated rainfall from Saturday midnight has now become a reason of worry. Many of us harvested the crops hurriedly but couldn't shift them from the fields. They are now lying on the fields submerged in water," said an anxious farmer.

"If the government does not aid us, we will suffer irreparable losses. We hope the government will consider our situation and address our concerns," voiced another farmer. 

Similar is the situation of farmers in Niali under Cuttack district. Most of the farmers in the region were unable to harvest their crops. Their fields now waterlogged following incessant rainfall has spilt water on their dreams of a good yield this season.

"It is not possible for us to get bare minimum yield this year due to the unseasonal rain. We hope the government will look after our desperate situation and offer financial aid," remarked a farmer from Niali.

The scenario is even more upsetting in Jagatsinghpur district. Heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclonic storm Jawad is lashing the district since last night. 

As a result, the farmlands are submerged in water. Crops cultivated in thousands of hectares of farmland are now on the verge of getting damaged. 

Though the scare of the severe cyclone dissipated giving much relief to the public at large, the unseasonal rainfall has now threatened to cause huge setback to agriculture in the State ahead of the peak harvest period of Kharif season.