The recent floods damaged standing paddy crops in Rajkanika, Aul, Garadapur, Marsaghai and Mahakalapada blocks in Kendrapada district.

"Floods caused extensive damage to paddy saplings. How will we repay the bank loan?" asked Sarat Jena of Ratanapur village. The floods also severely damaged large tracts of green gram, black gram and vegetable crops in the district.

Deputy director of agriculture (Kendrapada) Prafulla Chandra Mishra said paddy crops on 30,659 hectare and jute and vegetable farming on 6,566 hectare were damaged at 509 villages in 156 gram panchayats.

The authorities will pay compensation of Rs 4,500 per hectare to the farmers in non-irrigated lands whereas those in irrigated lands will get Rs 9,000 per acre.

"I raised paddy saplings on three acre last month. The floodwaters damaged all the paddy saplings," said Ramachadra Behera, a farmer of Aaitapur. Many areas at Garadapur and Marsaghai are still in knee-deep water.

As most of the farmers did not insure their crops, they will not get proper compensation for crop loss, said Ramesh Behera, a farmer from Ratanapur.

"I was shocked after watching my agricultural field. I raised paddy on four acre and hoped to harvest in the first week of November. But floodwaters damaged the entire crop," said Arjun Swain of Basupur.

Due to non-availability of flood-tolerant paddy seeds, farmers of flood-hit villages suffer huge loss of crops every year.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/