Heavy rainfall since May 28 has devastated Khowai district’s agriculture, causing losses over crores for farmers. Boro paddy and summer vegetables are ruined, with 995 farmers in Khowai alone affected. As rains persist, farmers await government aid to recover.
Khowai (Tripura), June 6: Relentless rainfall since May 28 has wreaked havoc on agricultural sector in Khowai District of Tripura, leaving farmers grappling with huge losses. The downpour has affected Boro paddy and summer vegetable crops, plunging the district’s farming community into despair. According to preliminary estimates by the Agriculture and Horticulture Department, the financial toll is staggering. The exact amount of damage could not be ascertained as ongoing rains have delayed a comprehensive damage assessment.
Deputy Director of Agriculture Samiran Chakma reported that the heavy rainfall, spanning May 28 to June 2, has crippled the district’s agricultural backbone. Khowai, divided into five agricultural subdivisions—Teliamura-Mungiakami, Kalyanpur, Khowai, Tulashikhar, and Padmabil—and six blocks, has seen widespread devastation.
“Farmers had high hopes of reaping profits, but their dreams have been washed away with waterlogged Boro paddy and summer vegetables ruined,” Chakma said, noting that the damage continues to mount daily.
The Boro paddy crop, a lifeline for many, has been hit hardest. Khowai subdivision suffered the most severe blow, with 225 of 255 cultivated hectares destroyed, affecting 995 farmers.
In Kalyanpur, 57 hectares were cultivated, with 18 hectares partially damaged and 2 hectares completely submerged, resulting in a 30% loss. This translates to 21 metric tons of paddy, worth approximately ₹4.83 lakh, affecting 45 farmers.
In Teliamura, 10 of 85 cultivated hectares were damaged (35% loss), equating to 17 metric tons valued over ₹4 lakh, impacting 42 farmers. Mungiakami reported 6 of 30 hectares partially damaged (40% loss), with 12 metric tons lost. Tulashikhar saw 11.90 of 45 hectares damaged (35% loss), costing 17 metric tons worth ₹3.08 lakh, affecting 40 farmers. Padmabil faced a 42% loss, with 58 of 70 hectares damaged, resulting in over 114 metric tons lost, valued above ₹26 lakh.
The department is still compiling data on the total volume and value of losses in this area. Persistent rains have compounded the crisis, preventing farmers from salvaging or storing crops. “Even when we manage to cut the paddy, we can’t store it. It’s rotting in heaps,” said a distressed farmer from Kalyanpur.
Summer vegetables, including pointed gourd, ridge gourd and chili etc, have also been devastated, with over 303 hectares damaged district-wide, impacting 1,825 farmers. In Kalyanpur, 75 hectares of vegetables were lost, affecting 340 farmers. Tulashikhar reported 7.32 hectares of ginger cultivation destroyed, impacting 47 farmers. “Chili plants die when water pools at their roots,” explained a horticulture official, highlighting the scale of the vegetable losses.
Farmers, often referred to as “annadata” (food providers), are now counting their losses and pleading for government aid. Rural women, integral to Khowai’s farming culture, are particularly affected, with many in tears over ruined crops. Areas like Durgapur and Tarani Sardar Para in Kalyanpur have seen total Boro paddy destruction, while vegetable fields in Ghilatli, Kuchpara, and Gopalnagar are wiped out.
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Some farmers who harvested early, escaped the worst, but those with crops still in the fields face a bleak future. Previous flood relief provided partial compensation, but farmers are now urging the government to offer enhanced support. “We need help to recover. The government must consider our plight compassionately,” said a farmer from Teliamura.
