The entire Hirakud Command Area witnessed a virulent loss due to wind, rain and hailstones since April 21. Farmers are narrating their stories with tearful eyes in view of their crops lying damaged.
“Just a week or so was left for cutting paddy. This year there was a bumper crop. But see the paddy field. We don’t know what will happen to us,” said Jagannath Behera (55) of Tali Tamparsara village under Attabira block of Bargarh district.
“And, we are well aware what is going to happen and how we will be exploited for the reason of undervaluation of paddy and discoloured paddy,” Behera added.
Paddy apart, all the cash crops also meet the same fate not only in the command area but all over the western Odisha and areas coming under the northern revenue division. Tomato, ladies finger, bitter guard, brinjal, parbal, pumkin and all other green vegetables are totally damaged, as is seen.
“However, a survey is being made in the field to assess loss and payment of input subsidy to the farmers will be considered as per norms,” informed RDC Niranjan Sahu .
Crop loss apart, many trees have been uprooted and electricity connections have been disrupted in many places, which has emerged as other problems for the locals. And due to Corona restrictions, labourers are not available for revival works.