JAJPUR:Incessant rains for the last four days have severely damaged ripe paddy crops in several blocks of the district. It is estimated that crops over 40,000 hectares in Rasulpur, Dharmasala, Jajpur, Korei, Dasarathapur, Bari, Barchana and Binjharpur blocks have been inundated.
Sudhanshubala Parida of Bhotaka village said, “The low pressure-induced rain has damaged my two acres of paddy crop. I was preparing to harvest the crop when the untimely rain destroyed it. All paddy fields have been submerged in rainwater.”
According to official sources, paddy crop was cultivated in 1.08 lakh ha of land in the district of which more than 40,000 ha has been affected. As a result, paddy production in the district will be reduced. Meanwhile, all block-level Agriculture officials have been asked to visit paddy fields to assess crop loss and submit reports to the district office soon.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Rajib Lochan Das said the district administration will provide assistance to farmers who have suffered crop loss as per the State Government guidelines.