As persistent rain and unfavorable weather conditions persist in Chhotinatara village under Salepur block in Cuttack district, local paddy farmers are fighting to safeguard their product, according to sources on Tuesday.

The sources claim that as farmers work to reduce the dangers to their livelihoods, the situation is still tight. Early in the morning, there was a lot of fog, chilly temperatures, and rain activity in the block.
“Our produce will get entirely damaged after it sprouts. What shall we do with the drenched paddy? Neither the Government will procure it nor we will be able to consume the crop thereafter,” an elderly farmer from Chhotinatara village said. 

“The harvested paddy has started sprouting and those in the farmlands have got damaged. With no choice left with us, we are hurriedly carrying the crop to our houses. We shall have to feed our families with whatever remains with us,” the old man lamented.

“It has been like a double whammy for us. We are helpless and only God can save us from this state of peril,” another farmer from the village expressed.

Worth mentioning, paddy cultivation in Kalahandi district was severely affected due to an unseasonal spell of rain that occurred on Sunday. With paddy mandis yet to be opened, local farmers are in utter distress and many of them expressed their anguish.