Heavy rain hits paddy, maize

Karimnagar, Nov. 18: Heavy rains that lashed the district from Tuesday evening under the influence of the north-east monsoons caused extensive damage to standing paddy crop.

Huge stocks of paddy and maize kept in open at various agricultural market yards in the district were also either washed away or damaged due to sudden rains.
The downpour comes at a time when the harvesting of standing paddy crop is hardly a week or 10 days away.

The loss to paddy crop is heavy in Jagtial division where the crop is cultivated over large extent of land.

Unofficial estimates put the loss to paddy crop at Rs 12 crore in Jagtial division alone as fully grown paddy stalks are under sheets of water.

The district received an average rain fall of 29.4 mm in 24 hours from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening with Ramagunda recording maximum rainfall of 105 mm , followed by Chandurti (90mm) and Manakondur 70.2 mm.

Bags of paddy and maize kept in open at market yards in Jagtial, Korutla, Metpally and Raikal were washed away in the rains.

It has become a routine that large quantities of paddy and other agriculture produce brought by farmers to market yards are washed away whenever there is a rain as there are no facilities to protect stocks in almost all yards.

In summer this year too, paddy farmers suffered immense losses when untimely rains washed away paddy bags and heaps kept on the premises of market yards in the district.

According to information, 15,000 quintals of paddy was washed away in Jagtial market yard alone. Similarly, maize kept in open at Indira Kranti Patham purchasing centres in rural areas was also washed away in rainwater.

In another blow to cotton farmers who have been reeling under the impact of reduced yields and quality due to drought, cotton bales brought to market yards in Husnabad, Peddapalli and Jammikunta for sale were drenched in rain severely affecting quality.

Officials have stopped purchase of cotton and declared holiday to market yards as rains were forecast for two or three more days.