By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Farmers in Angul and Athamallik blocks are hard hit following unseasonal heavy downpour accompanied by hailstorms that destroyed crop and vegetable.
Intermittent rain continued in most parts of Angul district at the time of writing this piece. This is the third time in a span of two months that torrential rain accompanied by gales and thunders lashed the region breaking the backbone of farming community causing widespread damage to crop and vegetation.
Although revenue officials did not confirm the colossus loss of crop and vegetation in the region saying the impact of hailstorms and rain over farm produces is being estimated, farmer groups said continuous downpour over days during harvesting of paddy crop has destroyed everything. 'They will not get even a few kilograms of paddy from several acres of land. The paddy fields resemble ponds following heavy rain for days. Crops float on water mocking at them', the farmer groups said sorrowfully.
Vegetable growers as well as crop producers in Bantala and Athamallik region alleged that the revenue officials seemed to be little interested to assess the crop damage and provide immediate financial assistance as compensation. They said the delay in compensation provision will further aggravate their situation.
Extensive damage to vegetable crops has cast adverse impact on local market. Essential commodities are sold at skyrocketing prices forbidding middle class and small income groups to visit markets and if they did then they are left with no choice but to buy products of their choice in very less quantity.
