DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Nov 04: The standing paddy crop in some villages of Diglipur has flattened due to untimely rainfall accompanied by strong winds since last three days.
The produce lying in the open in the fields got mostly drenched, resulting higher moisture level in the crop.
The unwanted rainfall has increased the worry of paddy farmers as the production is likely to fall and the quality of the produce will also be affected.
Paddy growers are in distress as untimely rain has damaged the standing paddy crop in hundreds of acres due to water logging.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, some farmers of Diglipur said that the matured crops have suffered heavy loss in several areas.
“The labourers are not easily available in the market for crop harvesting manually. They are charging Rs 400-500 per day that too for 2-4 hours as the rain starts they stop the work but we have to pay the full payment to the labourers,” said a Farmer.
Lack of harvesting machine also increased the loss of the farmers. Since the crop is about to be reaped, rain at this time can hit the output.
The rice cultivation in Andaman normally starts in the month of August or September. The farmers reap the crop for their own consumption for full year and some of them already under a debt and now this rain has added to their woes.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha, the Assistant Director, Agriculture, Diglipur Mrs. Sreedevi said that “The field survey of the crop damage is already started and agriculture staffs are accessing the damage along with the PRIs.
She added that about 300 farmers have till now insured their crop under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna at Diglipur, Sub Division.
