Rain threat sends farmers scurrying to save crops

BERHAMPUR: Farmers in Ganjam - one of the major paddy growing districts in the state - who are already reeling from losses caused by cyclonic storm Titli and the subsequent floods, are worried about the possibility of yet another spell of heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Phethai.
The Met department has forecast heavy rain in the southern districts, including Ganjam and Gajapati, under the influence of Phethai from Monday.The cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on the same day. Many panic-stricken farmers in the district are threshing their crops in the fear of further destruction by rain.
"I lost almost all my crops to the floods in river Rushikulya as also to pest attack. If it were to rain in the next one day or two, I will lose my remaining crops as well," Simanchal Gouda of Purushottampur rued. Another farmer Sushant Muni of Belaguntha said, "I could not cut the crops due to shortage of labour."
Deputy registrar of cooperative societies (Ganjam) Sushant Panda too said they had advised the farmers to keep the ripened paddy in the godowns.