Intense downpours wreak havoc on crops across Goa
Panaji:
After four consecutive days of unrelenting pre-monsoon downpours, farmers across several talukas in Goa are grappling with crop damage, with paddy, fruits, and vegetable cultivations hit particularly hard.
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In Chandor, rabi paddy was in the process of harvest but had to be abandoned midway. As of Friday, an estimated 10-15 hectares of farmland was submerged, leaving the crop waterlogged. Around 2 hectares of paddy fields in Cuncolim were also under water. Additional scattered pockets across Salcete are reporting localised damage.
Salcete Zonal Agriculture Officer (ZAO) Rajesh Costa described the situation as severe.
'We are looking at crops in approximately 1.5 lakh square metres of area that were damaged in the taluka,' Costa said. 'So far, farmers reported a loss of approximately Rs 10 lakh in paddy, fruits, and vegetables.'
The damage was not confined to fields alone. 'Some farmers were not prepared for such a sudden downpour. They left harvested paddy out in the open to dry, and now those crops are beginning to sprout due to excess moisture,' Costa said.
He warned that if the rain continues, late mango varieties such as mussarat and hilario could also face damage.
Meanwhile, in Madrem, nearly 2 hectares of farmland cultivated by six farmers were reported damaged, according to Pernem ZAO Ranjeet Mhapsekar. Efforts are now under way to assess the full extent of the damage and provide relief to the affected farmers.
'Compensation to the farmers under the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi scheme is under process,' Mhapsekar told
TOI
.
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In Betalbatim, the inundation affected watermelon crops. Island villages such as Divar also saw some flooding in Malar, where sweet potatoes and chilli crops are being grown.
In Colem, six to seven hectares of rabi paddy were damaged due to the intense rainfall, and the seeds have even started germinating. 'We inspected the fields at Dharbandora, and there is total damage. All Krishi card holders will be compensated for this loss,' said agricultural officer, Shiwangi Paidarker.
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