Kaup suffers heavy paddy crop damage

Kaup: The unseasonal rains from Friday have led to widespread destruction of paddy crops in Kaup taluk.

The heavy rains, coupled with strong winds, inundated the paddy fields and damaged the ready-to-harvest crop including Kaup, Majur, Kalattur, Mallaru, Belapu, Yermal, Padubidri, SHirva, Katapadi, Innaje, Pangala, Palimar, Herur, Padur, and other areas of the taluk.

Knee-deep water was visible in low-lying areas. The farmers are now staring at a huge financial loss.

In most parts, the villages have already rented one or two harvesting machines, but farmers facing a dilemma as to they would be able to make profitable use of them. If the harvesting machine is run in the swampy paddy field, there is a threat of further crop damage, the farmers said.

The farmers appealed to the government to order the revenue and agriculture department officials to inspect the paddy crop damage along the coast, make an estimate of the damage, and order proper compensation.

Meanwhile, Kaup taluk agriculture officer Pushpalatha informed that a survey of the damage has been conducted in Hejamady so far. Further, an inspection report will be compiled soon and submitted to the government, she said.

She also said that there are provisions to offer a compensation package of up to Rs 6800 per acre with a ceiling of 2.5 acres. The farmers must submit an application with documentary evidence to the agriculture department to get these benefits, she added.