Rain affects paddy processing in Odisha

Berhampur: Harvested paddy lying in the open for processing at several places in Ganjam district were allegedly damaged due to widespread unseasonal rain since Wednesday night.

An average 62 mm rain was recorded in the district at night, official sources said.

The farmers in several places from Sanakhemundi, Rangeilunda, Patrapur, Dharakote blocks, where the highest rainfall was recorded alleged the hays have been soaked beyond to process.

Very little to get from the heaps, as bad weather continued in the district, said Mahantara Pradhan of Patapur.

The rain has compounded the woes of the farmers, former Speaker of the State Assembly Chintamani Dyansamantara said here on Thursday.

The extent of damage due to rain was yet to be assessed, the agriculture officials said.

The damage will not be much as several farmers have already processed the paddy, deputy director of agriculture (Ganajm) Damodar Polai said.

He, however, said that the rain would be helpful to the standing rabi crops like pulses and oilseeds.

The recent rain will be very helpful to the standing crops of the pulses green-gram, black gram and the oilseeds like groundnut crops, he pointed out.