Gajapati, Nov 12: Fearing another round of crop losses, farmers in Mohana block of Odisha’s Gajapati district have accelerated paddy harvesting as the possibility of rain from a fresh low-pressure system raises concerns during the crucial harvest season.
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With rainfall reportedly forecast for November 14, 15 and 17, farmers are racing against time to cut their standing crops and move the harvested paddy to safer locations. Many are even harvesting earlier than planned to prevent their produce from being damaged by rain.
The anxiety is heightened by losses suffered during the previous cyclone, which reportedly damaged paddy cultivated across several acres in the region.
Farmers rush to harvest before rainfall
Agricultural fields in Mohana have become scenes of hurried harvesting, with farmers trying to complete the work before the anticipated spell of rain.
Some cultivators have reportedly started working from early morning, while others are storing harvested paddy in sheds or covering it with tarpaulins along roadsides to protect it from moisture.
A farmer said the previous cyclone had destroyed paddy grown on four to five acres, leaving the family struggling to recover from the loss. With another weather-related threat looming, farmers are worried about the possibility of further damage and have sought government assistance.
Another cultivator said harvesting work had begun as early as 6 am after they received information about the possibility of heavy rainfall on November 14, 15 and 17.
Previous cyclone losses deepen concerns
For many farmers in the area, the fresh rain threat comes at a particularly difficult time. Having already suffered damage to their crops, they fear that another spell of adverse weather could wipe out much of their remaining harvest.
Some farmers have shifted the harvested paddy to sheds in an effort to salvage at least a portion of their produce and secure some income from the season.
The uncertainty has added to the pressure on farming families, whose livelihoods depend heavily on the successful harvesting and storage of their crops.
Farmers seek support amid weather uncertainty
Farmers have urged the government to extend assistance to cultivators affected by the earlier cyclone and those facing potential losses from the forecast rainfall.
While harvesting ahead of schedule may help reduce exposure to rain, it also creates challenges for farmers who must arrange labour, transportation and safe storage at short notice.
For cultivators in Mohana, the immediate priority is to bring in the standing paddy before the weather turns unfavourable. After recovering from one round of crop damage, they are hoping to avoid another setback during this year’s harvest.