Incessant rains in the State during the last two days under the influence of Cyclone Jawad have damaged standing crops including vegetables – the farmers have incurred huge losses owing to the unseasonal rains. At many places including areas adjoining Agartala, agri-fields have been inundated resulting in damages to winter vegetables and Aman paddy.
Most of the farmers of the Santirbazar sub-division have been hit by the unseasonal rainfall. However, the Bagafa Agriculture department officials promptly stood behind the affected farmers and informed the farmers that the State Government would be looking into the matter.
Speaking to the media, Superintendent of Bagafa Agri department Sujit Kumar Das said, steps will be taken to ensure payment of compensations to the farmers who were insured under the Bima Yojana. Besides, initiatives will be taken for assistance to un-insured farmers. Das urged all the farmers to register them to avail benefits of the Bima Yojana.
Farmlands along both sides of the Gomati River went underwater as the river swelled due to incessant downpour during the last two days resulting in damage of crops especially the winter vegetables. Swaths of farmlands in the Amarpur sub-division were affected causing immense losses to farmers. At Mainak village under the sub-division, standing paddy crops were destroyed due to the unseasonal rains. Speaking to the media, several farmers – Malu Mian, Abdil Kasem and Jayanta Das – said, the crops were ready to be harvested – however, the rains damaged all the crops even before farmers could harvest them.
Unseasonal rains have affected vast agricultural areas under Kalyanpur sub-division. With the Khowai River is swelling, Kochpara, Bateka, Kamalnagarm Bagan Bazar, Dwarikapur, Kachari Tila, Ghungraichhara, West and South Ghilatali, North Kamalnagar and Ghilatali areas were the worst affected. Farmers of other areas of the sub-division have also been affected.
Jawad-induced rains have taken a huge toll on farmers of Teliamura sub-division. Farmers who cultivated winter crops like bringle, cauliflower, potato, etc could not harvest their crops before the rains hit and most of the crops have been damaged. The farmers are facing huge financial losses.
Gomati district president of BJP Abhishek Debroy along with Agri officials and party leaders visited the rain hit agri-areas including the worst affected Konabon area, Bogabasa under Bagma etc. Like other parts of the State, farmers of the Udaipur sub-division have fallen to natural calamities.