Unseasonal rain for the past 72 hours caused by cyclone Jawad affected the farmers and damaged huge crops in various parts of Tripura.
Along with the loss incurred to the farmers, the damage of standing crops following the continuous rainfall is likely to hit vegetable prices in the next few days.
According to the Met department, Agartala recorded 104.3 mm rainfall from 8.30 pm of Monday to 8.30 am of Tuesday and another 9.9 mm rainfall till 8.30 pm.
Agriculture minister Pranajit Singha Roy accompanied by officials concerned on Tuesday visited several rain-affected areas including Dighalia and Purba Bamutia under Bamutia Block and Paschim Bhubanban Baishyapara of Barjala in the West Tripura district.
During his visit, the Agriculture minister interacted with the affected farmers, assessed the loss as well as passed an instruction to the officers for ensuring assistance
Later speaking to the media, he said, “this year the production of paddy, vegetables and other crops was satisfactory but the unseasonal rain caused huge damages in various places, bringing worries for the farmers.”
He appealed to the farmers not to break down following the damage as the government would ensure compensation to the affected farmers. He assured that the department would reach every affected field and farmer; the farmers need not to do or say anything.
“The farmers who are not covered under the insurance scheme will also receive necessary assistance. A list is being prepared and the concerned officers along with administration are making field visits to assess the loss,” the Agriculture minister told the media.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for the next 24 hours predicted general cloudy sky and light rainfall in some areas.
Most of the farmers of the Santirbazar sub-division have been hit by the unseasonal rainfall. However, the Bagafa Agriculture department officials promptly stood behind the affected farmers and informed the farmers that the State Government would be looking into the matter.
Speaking to the media, Superintendent of Bagafa Agri departmentSujit Kumar Das said, steps will be taken to ensure payment of compensations to the farmers who were insured under the Bima Yojana. Besides, initiatives will be taken for assistance to un-insured farmers. Das urged all the farmers to register them to avail benefits of the Bima Yojana.
Farmland along both sides of the Gomati River went under water as the river swelled due to incessant downpour during the last two days resulting damage of crops especially the winter vegetables. Swaths of farmlands in the Amarpur sub-division were affected causing immense losses to farmers. At Mainak village under the sub-division, standing paddy crops were destroyed due to the unseasonal rains. Speaking to the media, several farmers – Malu Mian, Abdil Kasem and Jayanta Das – said, the crops were ready to be harvested – however, the rains damaged all the crops even before farmers could harvest it.
Our Kalyanpur correspondent adds: Unseasonal rains have affected vast agricultural areas under Kalyanpur sub-division. With the Khowai River is swelling, Kochpara, Bateka, Kamalnagarm Bagan Bazar, Dwarikapur, Kachari Tila, Ghungraichhara, West and South Ghilatali, North Kamalnagar and Ghilatali areas were the worst affected. Farmers of other areas of the sub-division have also been affected.
Jawad induced rains have taken a huge toll on farmers of Teliamura sub-division. Farmers who cultivated winter crops like bringle, cauliflower, potato etc could not harvest their crops before the rains hit and most of the crops have been damaged. The farmers are facing huge financial losses.
Gomati district president of BJP Abhishek Debroy along with Agri officials and party leaders visited the rain hit agri-areas including the worst affected Konabon area, Bogabasa under Bagma etc. Like other parts of the State, farmers of the Udaipur sub-division have fallen to natural calamities.
Courtesy Tripura Times
