Berhampur: The rain warning issued by the India Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar, for coastal districts in the wake of low pressure area has worried farmers in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Thousands of acres of standing crops were damaged due to the cyclonic storm Titli. Farmers who suffered crop loss and are under debt-burden now, fear fresh rain will destroy their remaining crops, which they had managed to save during the floods.
Even as the district administration prepared a preliminary report on crop damage in Ganjam and Gajapati districts and the losses suffered by the farmers, the latter are yet to get any compensation so far.
“While most of the standing crops were destroyed in the floods, what little was saved could be damaged in the fresh rain. I don’t know what to do? We have no means to fend for our families and repay our debts,” said a farmer.
He wasn’t the only farmer, but many farmers in both the districts were worried about the crop damage in the fresh rain. Many were seen trying to reap the standing crops so as to avoid loss in the coming rainfall.
“The backbone of farmers was broken by Titli and subsequent floods. Now, the fresh rain will deal a severe blow again,” said another farmer, adding they were going through a tough phase from last year as many farmers had suffered huge crop loss due to pest-attack and unseasonal rains.
Meanwhile, the state government has alerted collectors of all coastal and interior districts after the IMD issued the warning of heavy rain in the next 48 hours under the impact of a cyclonic circulation formed over the Bay of Bengal.
The Collectors have been advised to take precautionary measures. Moreover, the fishermen also were warned against venturing into the sea till October 31 as the sea condition would remain rough to very rough.
PNN