Cyclone Michaung ravages agriculture in coastal Odisha, SRC seeks crop damage report

By C.R.Beura

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 7 : The severe cyclonic storm Michaung induced rainfall and caused extensive crop damage in Odisha, especially in southern parts of the state, bringing disappointment to thousands of farmers who hoped for bumper harvests this season.

Acres of standing crops such paddy and millets came under water submergence in southern parts of the state, frustrating the expectation of farmers to get even “minimum return” on their investments.

Reports from Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput and Rayagada said heavy rains also affected vegetable and horticulture orchards.

The farmers in Ghumusar Udaygiri region in Kandhamal district said the paddy crop was almost ready for harvesting in the next few days. However, the heavy rain damaged the crop entirely.

“In Kandhamal, farmers grow paddy, millets, vegetables and horticultural crops. Now, they are staring at a bleak future. Unless the state government comes to their rescue, they will battle a serious financial crisis,” said Ashok Mohanty, a local resident.

The office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Odisha, on Wednesday sought a report from district Collectors on crop damage due to cyclone Michaung.

Several parts of Odisha experienced widespread rainfall during the last couple of days under the influence of cyclone Michaung.

In its letter to district Collectors, SRC Satyabrata Sahu said that an Agricultural Input Subsidy (AIS) will be provided to farmers sustaining crop loss of 33 percent and above as per norms of the State Disaster Response Fund.

“You are requested to conduct field-level crop assessment through joint inquiry by the officials of the revenue and disaster management and agriculture department through eye estimation to ascertain the crop area damage of 33 percent and above and submit ULB, block, gram panchayat-wise report by December 12, 2023,” the SRC letter read.

The Odisha government has asked officials to verify the land schedule, and RoR of affected farmers from Bhulekh while assessing the extent of crop loss.