Rain strikes Kuttanad farmers again

ALAPPUZHA: The rains and apathy of the authorities have once again affected the farmers in Kuttanad.Tonnes of paddy stored in various farms were flooded, causing massive financial losses to the farmers.The farmers blamed the procurement process of the Civil Supplies Corporation and the attitude of the rice mill owners working on contract for paddy collection.Sukumaran Thirumala, a farmer from Karuvelipadam, said: “We had harvested the paddy on April 20.The mill owners did not come to the farm after that. Last Monday the mill officials came, but returned without collecting paddy. From Tuesday to Thursday, there were heavy rains, submerging the pile of paddy.” Sukumaran added that if the mill owners had taken the rice back then, the loss could have been reduced.During the rains, the water had penetrated the plastic sacks, and one-third of the paddy became wet. Thankappan, a farmer, said: “The mill owners determined the weight of the rice after checking its moisture content.After the rains, it had increased a lot, and the weight lost was eight kg from the original 100 kg. Normally, it would be two or three kg.We have lost nearly Rs 100 per quintal.”“The authorities know of the terrible summer rains in the months of April and May.So they have to increase the pace of procurement. Yet every year, the Corporation and mill owners purposefully delay the procurement,” said Sarojini, a farmer. “Usually, there would be a shortage of combine harvesters.” This year, though the number of machines increased and the reaping became speedier, the procurement was slow.Farmers are facing the same crisis in Thakazhi, Eda thua , Ka ina k a r i , Mankombu, Pallathuruthy, Champakulam and other regions in Kuttanad.Additionally, power failures, due to heavy winds and lightning, had hindered the pumping process in the paddy polder.In some areas, the paddy ready for reaping was flooded. Hundreds of acres of farm lands were submerged in Somathuram, Marthandam, Koyikkara, Kuppapuram and Nedumudi farm lands. The combine harvesters were also stranded in the marshes. Principal Agricultural Officer K G Harikumar said: “The department has been assessing the loss incurred in the rains.After the calculation, we will recommend to the government to allot compensation for the loss.”