Untimely rain: 590 farmers suffer Rs 1.5 crore loss across 397 hectares

Bicholim: At least 590 farmers from Bicholim taluka suffered losses of over Rs 1.5 crore across 397 hectares of farmland due to untimely heavy and incessant rain, said officials from the Bicholim agricultural office. Currently, all paddy fields are in bad shape. Farmers have claimed 100 per cent losses, fearing that the farmlands may remain uncultivable for the next season too.

Assistant agricultural officer Navnath Pissurlekar from Bicholim divisional agricultural office said that rice is cultivated on a large scale in the areas of Mayem, Sal, Menkurem, Navelim, and Amona in Bicholim taluka. Farmers were optimistic about this year’s crop. But this year, due to rainwater accumulation in fully ripe fields, harvesting machines could not be used. The agriculture department had harvested rice in some fields in Latambarcem and Mayem villages using a private harvester, but the undried rice later sprouted due to dampness.


After harvesting, rice must be dried in the hot sun for at least two days. Farmers dry rice by spreading it in their courtyards, roadsides or in fields.

This year, farmers were unable to dry the harvested rice, causing the grains to sprout. As a result, it has become difficult to obtain good-quality rice.

Farmers said the rain was satisfactory for the first four months of the monsoon, which was adequate for good paddy cultivation. However, the untimely rain after the monsoon shattered their dreams, they said.

Farmers across the region watch in despair as the crops they toiled for lie flattened. Farmers are worried about next year as they are uncertain about undertaking paddy cultivation in the damaged fields. Sakharam Pednekar, a farmer, said this year, farmers had worked hard for the best results; however, nature’s fury has shattered their hopes.

This year, as Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali arrived early, rice harvesting was delayed. During this period, due to untimely rain and waterlogging, farmers could not harvest the fields despite them being ready. As a result, all rice ears were bent by the weight of the water. The rice ears are now damaged, making harvesting less beneficial, said farmers.

A team from the agriculture department had inspected the fields and assessed damage of about 90 per cent of the rice crop. This loss is calculated based on a yield of 3,500-4,500kg rice per hectare. In Bicholim taluka, 397 hectares of rice fields have been destroyed, causing substantial damage.

Currently, these farmers will be compensated by govt through the farmers’ support fund scheme, and their applications have been distributed. Along with this application, the farmers have been requested to take a photo of their fields and submit it to the office of the agriculture officer along with all relevant information.