Farmers face losses as rain damages paddy crops

According to the flood control department, Valsad received 60mm of rainfall, Navsari 100mm and Surat 60mm over Saturday and Sunday. However, on Monday, rainfall was lighter in South Gujarat. Agriculture departments of Surat, Valsari and Valsad are expected to prepare a report and submit it to the state agricultural department.

Navsari Agriculture Department officer, Atul Gajera, said, “We have started assessment of paddy crop loss. Presently, the paddy crop is in the mature stage and ready for harvesting. The district has experienced heavy rainfall, and as a result, there is damage. The agricultural fields in the high-topography area, which is in our district, have nothing to worry about, as the water drains out. Those fields in the lower regions have problems because the water gets stagnant and damages the crops.”

He further added, “In Navsari district, the paddy crops are sown on 40,000 hectares of land, while horticulture crops also get damaged due to season-end rainfall. There are 1.17 lakh landholders in the district, and around 60 per cent of farmers grow paddy. Apart from paddy, the other major crop is sugarcane, and the plantation, which starts in October, will be delayed for a few days.”

Surat agriculture department officer Satish Gamit said, “We have dispatched teams to various talukas in Surat district where rainfall has been observed. In Surat district, farming is carried out on 1.15 lakh hectares of land, out of which paddy is cultivated on 50,000 hectares. Many farmers have harvested their paddy crops and left them in the open to dry, but they have also suffered damage. Currently, it is difficult to say anything, but our teams are on the ground.”

Sources in Valsad’s agriculture department said the major crop is paddy, followed by sugarcane, horticulture and mango. Over 50,000 hectares are dedicated to paddy cultivation. The teams are actively working in various talukas and villages across the district.