RAINS WASH AWAY HOPES OF FARMERS

The torrential showers have affected paddy crops in vast tracts of agriculture fields in several districts across state

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Berhampur

UNSEASONAL rain over the last three days in the coastal district has poured cold water on the hopes of a large number of farmers who were expecting a bumper paddy yield.

The torrential rain has reportedly affected paddy crops in vast tracts of agriculture fields, leaving the farmers worried. Complaints of crop damage have been pouring in from many villages across the district.

Amit Jena, a farmer of Garapur village on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, said, "We are cursing the bad weather as the rain has damaged our ripe paddy crops. Many farmers tried their best to harvest the rain-soaked crops by holding umbrellas. But the efforts yielded little result."

Similarly, Ramachandra Parida of Bharatpur village said he was expecting a bountiful harvest this year. He had recently harvested his paddy crop and left it on his threshing floor. But the showers damaged his crops.

Sources said many farmers had left their freshly-cut crops to dry in the fields. Due to the prolonged showers, rainwater entered the fields and damaged the crops.