Flood leaves behind damaged paddy fields

Kolhapur: Farmers who decided to take up paddy cultivation along the Panchganga river bank are now counting their losses.

The below average monsoon for two years had prompted many farmers to take up paddy cultivation in the areas close to river. However, heavy rains and subsequent flooding over the past two months caused havoc on the region and has ruined paddy crop over 10,000 hectares in the district.

The district faced major floods during the first week of July and August, when most farmers had completed their cultivation. The farms remained under water for more than a week period, which has affected the growth of plants. The damage assessment has already begun and would reveal the actual extent of damage.

The damage assessment is done by officials from district agriculture department, talathis and senior revenue officers. The district agriculture department records stated that paddy cultivation in the district has been on 1,08,520 hectares, but the incessant showers in the first week of July and August raised the river water level and submerged adjoining areas.

Five tehsils - Karvir, Panhala, Gaganbavda, Radhanagari and Shahuwadi - along with some parts of Chandgad and Ajara tehsils are known for paddy cultivation. These areas were flooded and the water spread across the river banks.

Officials from district agriculture department pointed out that flood water was spread for more than five days in these tehsils and all the saplings planted a fortnight before were submerged. The saplings did not get required sunlight for a long time and excess exposure to the water caused major damage.

The high intensity of the showers during the current monsoon season meant that the district received 47% of its average rainfall for August in just three days. With such heavy downpour, the water levels of most rivers went up drastically and paddy fields got submerged.

Suresh Magdum, deputy director of district agriculture department, said, "Many farmers took up paddy cultivation near the river despite knowing that these areas get affected during heavy rain. Unfortunately, now, there is no mechanism to help improve the condition of the affected paddy fields. Another round of sowing is also risky because it is a water-intensive crop."

"The damage assessment is also going on for other crops such as sugarcane, soyabean and groundnuts. It would take another week to get final damage assessment," he said.