Udupi: Untimely Rains Wreak Havoc on Paddy Crop in Coastal Region
Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Nov 17: The paddy crop that was harvested and left in the fields, has been  damaged due to the unexpected rains that have lashed undivided Dakshina Kannada district over the past few days including the night of Monday November 16.

The harvested paddy is submerged in knee-deep water in the fields and the peasants are finding it difficult to carry them home.  The peasants who have toiled for all these months are distressed at the havoc caused by the rains.

The peasants were overjoyed when their paddy crop was ready for harvesting and now have to face hardships. 

Much of the crop is already withered and unfit for making rice at the mill.  It has drained their hopes and resources which will take many months to recover since some of the peasants have borrowed heavily to meet the expenses related to farming.

Veteran agriculturists say though it has rained during the harvest season in the past, there have never been such strong rains. If the paddy is widely damaged in the predominantly agriculture-based undivided Dakshina Kannada district, it is likely to cause scarcity of staple food. 

The farming community has voiced its concern over the lack of response by people’s representatives and also the state administration over their plight. 

The peasants are also aggrieved at the administration as it has been focused on the flood relief measures that are underway in the Uttar Karnataka. 

They feel that the effort to help out flood victims in Uttar Karnataka by the local social service and voluntary organizations has left the farming community high and dry in their struggle to salvage their damaged crop.  

The damp crop is now of substandard quality and unfit for consumption. It can only be used as cattle feed.  

Hence, the farming community seeks the administration’s support in their time of need.