After the detection of two Covid-19 positive cases in Likhiria village in Gudvella block and subsequent declaration of shutdown in that area by the Balangir district administration, harvest of ripen Rabi paddy crop has been affected.
"Rabi paddy has ripened already. We are unable to harvest it due to the shutdown in our area. The police are not giving permission to use labourers in harvesting work," lamented secretary of Deogaon Panipanchyat Laxman Podh, adding that several farmers whose paddy has ripened and ready to harvest, were a worrying lot.
In the last year flood a portion of Deogaon Sagar was damaged and due to the shutdown this year it has not been repaired.
After the damages, many farmers have not been able to take up cultivation of Rabi paddy, he said further.
However, the paddy which has ripened and ready for harvest is left in the field. But the indefinite shutdown in our area has halted the harvest of paddy, told Podh. He urged for a review of the decision.