Cyclone Montha’s aftermath threatens crop yields in Rayagada

Koraput: Farmers in Rayagada district are facing severe crop damage due to persistent damp weather and unseasonal rain following cyclone Montha. The waterlogged farmlands and continuous rainfall have affected paddy and cotton crops causing flowers to drop and stem to rot during a crucial growth stage.This has raised concerns about significant yield losses across the region. “This is the flowering season for both paddy and cotton. The rain came at the worst possible time and have spoiled everything,” said Durga Padhi, a farmer from Rayagada.According to the agriculture department, paddy was cultivated over 44,000 hectares and cotton over 48,800 hectares in the district this year. Farmers now fear that the yield from both crops may dip sharply if the weather does not improve soon.“We were expecting a good harvest after weeks of hard work, but the unseasonal rain has dashed our hopes. Many of us depend solely on paddy and cotton for our livelihood. The damage is heartbreaking,” said a farmer from Bissamcuttack.Collector (Rayagada) Ashutosh Kulkarni said preliminary damage assessment is underway. “Our field teams are visiting affected villages to assess the extent of damage. The report will be submitted to the government for possible assistance to the affected farmers,” he said.Despite the cyclone itself causing minimal direct damage, Rayagada recorded 130.7 mm of rainfall in 24 hours until Thursday morning, with Gunupur block receiving the highest rainfall of 35 mm, officials added.