Ranchi, Jharkhand Weather News: A significant reason behind the sudden rainfall in Jharkhand has come to light. According to the Meteorological Department, the La Niña effect has caused rainfall on Monday, which has increased the cold and created problems for farmers in rural areas.
Most farmers had cut their paddy and left it in the fields or barns, and it got soaked in the rain. In various blocks of the capital, about 30% of the paddy has been affected by the rain, and it is now at risk of damage due to moisture. If the clouds do not clear, this paddy will lose its value. Farmers stated that they did not expect rain and had left the paddy out in the open. The MSP procurement centers have not yet opened, leaving the farmers with no option to sell their crops. Paddy procurement centers are expected to open in many blocks by December 15.
Paddy harvesting remains incomplete in these blocks:
- Ratu Block: About 30% of the paddy remains in the fields and barns. Farmers like Dipu Singh and Dukhan Kewat said that harvesting and threshing are still incomplete. Due to a lack of labor, medium and small-scale farmers could not complete the harvesting. The sudden rain has created fear among them of their paddy getting spoiled.
- Bero Block: Monday’s unseasonal rain soaked paddy crops in the fields and barns, raising concerns about quality degradation. Farmers like Brijesh Mahto, Pawan Kumar, and others said they took loans for farming and are now facing significant challenges.
- Nagri Block: Approximately 60% of the farmers have already brought their harvested paddy home, but the rest is still in the fields. Farmer Rathua Mahto mentioned that while today’s rain may not have much impact, continuous rain for 2-3 days would bring disaster for hundreds of farmers.
- Sonahatu Block: Farmers, including Ashish Kumar and Ramesh Singh Munda, expressed concerns that the rain-soaked paddy might be on the verge of being ruined.
- Ormanjhi Block: In Manatu village, some crops were still standing in the fields, and those harvested were kept in barns. The rain threatens the quality of these crops, and even the stored straw (bichali) might get damaged if the rain continues.
- Itki Block: About 50% of the paddy crops in fields and barns have been damaged by the rain. Farmers had high hopes for a good harvest this year, but the unexpected rain dashed their expectations. Progressive farmer Bablu Gaya from Gadgaon estimated that 25% of the harvested paddy could get damaged. At government procurement centers, paddy is accepted based on quality, which has left farmers worried.
The unexpected rain has disrupted the farming activities, and unless the weather clears up soon, it could lead to massive losses for the farmers.
