Bhadrak, Aug. 6 (UDN): Two back-to-back floods have dealt a crushing blow to farmers in Odisha’s Bhadrak district, leaving vast stretches of agricultural land submerged and destroying paddy and vegetable crops just weeks into the cultivation season.

The worst-hit areas include Mirigia village under Sudarshanpur panchayat in Basudevpur block, where stagnant floodwater has remained on farmland for more than two weeks. The prolonged inundation has caused paddy nurseries to decay, while standing vegetable crops such as brinjal, okra, cowpea, cucumber and bitter gourd have perished.

For many cultivators, the latest flood has wiped out their second attempt at saving the farming season. After suffering losses in the first flood, farmers had invested again in seeds and prepared fresh nurseries, hoping to recover. However, another spell of flooding submerged the fields once more, leaving them with little chance of replanting as the transplantation window draws to a close.

The repeated crop failures have pushed many farming families into financial distress. Several cultivators said they had borrowed money from banks, self-help groups and private lenders to purchase seeds and agricultural inputs. With their crops destroyed, they now fear mounting debt and uncertainty over their livelihoods.

The impact extends beyond agriculture. Farmers said floodwaters also damaged fish ponds, affected livestock and inundated houses, adding to their losses. Continuous rainfall under the influence of an active monsoon system has further raised concerns of fresh flooding before existing water can recede.

“We had prepared the nurseries twice, but both were destroyed by floods. The seedlings have completely rotted in stagnant water. We don’t know how we will cultivate this season or support our families,” said a farmer from Mirigia village.

Another cultivator said he had invested heavily in vegetable farming, only to see all his crops washed away. “Brinjal, okra, cucumber, cowpea and bitter gourd—all have been destroyed. We have nothing left to harvest,” he said.

Calling the situation unprecedented, affected farmers urged the state government to provide immediate compensation, crop loss assistance and financial support to help them recover from consecutive flood disasters. They said timely relief would be crucial to enable them to prepare for the next cultivation cycle and protect their livelihoods.

With floodwaters yet to fully recede in several villages, uncertainty continues to loom over this year’s kharif season in the district.