Odisha farmers in distress as unseasonal rain, hailstorm damage crops

Balasore: Farmers in Odisha's Balasore district are facing a tough time as the recent unseasonal rain and hailstorm destroyed crops in several parts of the district.

Various types of vegetables grown by the farmers here like brinjal, pumpkin, chillies, cucumber have been badly damaged due to the heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorm that lashed the district from February 25 to 28.

“I had grown crops in five acre of land but rain destroyed it. No one is there to help me out from this situation; I don’t know from where do I repay the loan,” lamented a farmer, Sanjay Kumar Sahu.

Another farmer Deepa Sahu said, “I had borrowed Rs 50,000 from moneylenders for cultivation. The untimely rain and hailstorm ruined my life."

Deputy Director of the district agriculture department, Govind Chandra Lenka admitted that the unseasonal rain and hailstorm have damaged crops in the region, but said that no complaint regarding crop loss has been filed so far.

“We are yet to receive any report of crop damage; after receiving complaint, we will assess the damage,” said Lenka.