Balasore: Cyclonic storm Jawad accompanied by incessant rainfall has destroyed standing paddy crops in Balasore district.
A preliminary assessment by agriculture department has estimated the loss of paddy crops in 10,591 hectares, a report said. Farmers were preparing for harvest when the Jawad-induced rainfalls submerged ripen paddy crops in thousands of hectares of farmlands.
Farmers apprehend that the paddy crops on farmlands and those have been harvested might germinate after remaining submerged in water.
They claimed that it will take at least 20 days to completely drain out the water from their farmlands and by then all the paddy crops will either decompose or germinate.
Directed by the state relief commissioner, the district agriculture department conducted an expeditious survey of the farmlands and estimated the crop loss on 10,591 hectares.
The survey pointed out that paddy cultivation was undertaken on 1, 96,519 hectares in 360 panchayats under 12 blocks in the district.
The cyclone- induced rainfall affected crops in 999 revenue villages of 228 panchayats. Farmers had harvested crops on 93,460 hectares before the cyclonic storm while paddy crops are yet to be harvested from 1,03,059 hectares.
Crops in 15,278 hectares submerged in rainwater while paddy crops have been destroyed on 10,591 hectares, the report said. District agriculture officer Nikunja Kishore Rout said the survey on crop loss was conducted on war footing.
PNN