Unseasonal rain in Pune has damaged paddy crops, as well as other standing crops such as sugarcane and maize. The rain has caused concerns among farmers who had recently cut the paddy crops and were planning to thresh them. Agriculture officials predict that the rain could impact the expected output and quality of the harvest. The affected farmers are calling for compensation to recover from their losses. The rain is expected to result in an increase in the price of Indrayani rice in wholesale and retail markets.

Unseasonal rain in Pune has damaged paddy crops, as well as other standing crops such as sugarcane and maize. The rain has caused concerns among farmers who had recently cut the paddy crops and were planning to thresh them. Agriculture officials predict that the rain could impact the expected output and quality of the harvest. The affected farmers are calling for compensation to recover from their losses. The rain is expected to result in an increase in the price of Indrayani rice in wholesale and retail markets.

PUNE: Unseasonal rain in the past 48 hours spoiled harvest-ready paddy crops in Bhor, Velhe, Maval, Mulshi, Khed, Junnar and Ambegaon tehsils, leaving several farmers worried.

Several farmers from these tehsils had recently cut the paddy crops and were planning to thresh them on Sunday. Rainfall with gusty wind in the last two days also grounded other standing crops, including sugarcane and maize, in 13 tehsils in the district.

Agriculture officials, who had predicted good paddy harvest this season, said the recent rain could dent the expected output and the quality.

“The crops are submerged in rainwaters. They will start germinating if it continues to rain. The rain has ruined everything,” said a paddy grower.

Shankar Damse, a farmer from Ambegaon tehsil, said, “This is the main season for us. The rain has washed out our season. We will get less than 50% of the harvest. The authorities concerned should step up and do panchnama of our losses, and provide compensation to recover from this loss.”

Sanjay Kachole, the district agriculture officer, told TOI, “We have asked the tehsil agriculture officer to inspect the affected farms and do panchanma at the earliest. We will thereafter submit a report to the state government.”

The paddy was planted on about 60,000 hectares in the kharif season.

“It is the main crop in the season in Pune district, particularly in these seven tehsils. Paddy growers usually keep harvests on the farm before threshing them. This time also, they had kept their harvest in the open. Before they could process, the rainfall affected it,” said Kachole.

In Pune district, various varieties of rice have been cultivated over the years. In the last decade, the area under the famous Indrayani rice has grown multifold because of its high demand in the market.

“Farmers have been getting a good return from Indrayani rice cultivation as it is served in restaurants in a significant quantity. Due to this loss, the price of Indrayani rice will Increase by at least 10% to 20% in wholesale markets and beyond 30% in retail markets,” said a trader from the grocery section of the Pune market.

Farmers earn around Rs30,000 to Rs50,000 from one acre of Indrayani cultivation, depending on the quality and the quantity.

“The rice is mainly cultivated in hilly regions of the district. Maximum farmers are from tribal communities. For them, paddy is the only crop in the year. They do not cultivate other crops because of lack of water. Now, unseasonal rainfall has affected their harvest. They will have to store or keep their rice harvest only for their consumption. They will not have much rice to sell in the market. The state government should assess the situation on the ground and help the affected farmers to survive in this tough period,” said tribal activist Budhajj Damse from Ambegaon tehsil.

Published Date: November 12, 2023