Rain triggers fear of crop loss
ROURKELA: Untimely rains have triggered fear of crop loss among farmers of Sudbega and Talsara blocks, about 120 km from here. Besides standing paddy and horticulture crops, farmers had stacked harvested paddy on the fields for processing. However, with rains lashing the area at regular intervals in the last one week, they are now apprehensive of losing this season’s produce.
Farmers in 14 gram panchayats of Subdega block have said due to rains, harvested paddy crops have discoloured on getting wet and started bloating, a condition witnessed usually before sprouting.
In the absence of sheds, paddy crop is stacked in the open for threshing and processing in most of the places. The adjacent block of Talsara has also been partly affected due to rains.
Talsara Sarpanch Jemamani Pradhan said she had received information about damage to paddy and standing vegetable crops from Rauldega, Talsara and Badarma villages, adding the block office would be apprised of the situation. She said waterlogging has also been reported from several villages which is ominous for standing horticulture crops.
Farmers said vast tracts of agriculture fields bearing brinjal, tomato, cabbage and marigold flowers are set to end up with damage or low yields.