Panaji: Farmers despair as bad weather ravages crops at time of harvest

PANAJI: Farmers across Goa have lost a significant chunk of their crop owing to the heavy showers and cyclonic storm that lashed the state on October 24 to 25. The paddy crop, which was in the process of being harvested, is reported to have been worst hit.
“Most of the farmers in Tiswadi cultivate only paddy. Almost 20% of the crop has been harvested already, while the rest was in the fields as it is.About 80-85% of crop in Tiswadi is therefore affected,” sources from the zonal agricultural office (ZAO) in Tiswadi said.
Fields in Divar island have been flooded with no scope for any harvest, thus ill-fating the entire crop, sources said.
The situation in South Goa was no better. The total area of paddy crops in Canacona is estimated to be about 40-45 ha tentatively and the loss may be up to Rs 40 lakh, including that of tuber crops and arecanut, ZAO officials told TOI.
However, even the surviving crop is at a risk of rotting or sprouting.
“The intensity of rain was very high in Canacona and may badly affect the upland paddy. Since the crop is mature and ready for harvest, delays will cause sprouting due to rain. The rain may also badly affect tuber crops such as kayekonag, madie (diascoriea) as they are ready for harvest and may suffer damage due to rot if not plucked soon,” ZAO officials said.
Agriculture officials, however, said that upland vegetables in the region may not be affected as most of the harvest has already been done.
Other areas that have reported loses are Polem (2 hectares), Loliem (2 ha), Cotigao and Gaondongrim (4 ha) and Khola (10 ha).
The agriculture sector in the state suffered the hardest blow this season when heavy rain lashed Goa for nearly a week in August and left fields inundated. Barely recovering from the loss, the farmers have now suffered yet another wrath of Mother nature. Crop loss in flood-hit fields was estimated to be about Rs 8 to 10 crore, then.
Agriculture director, Madhav Kelkar said that area-wise inspections to estimate the crop loss is under way.
“Paddy crops in Bardez, Tiswadi and Canacona are dead due to the rain storm. We have to assess the crop loss and scrutinise the cases of all farmers, based on which a report will be prepared. We are likely to complete the inspection by Wednesday,” Kelkar said.