Heavy rains have continued to cause damage to agricultural and horticultural crops in various parts of Sattari, Bicholim and Pernem talukas during the last two days.

In various places, paddy sown during the monsoon season was ready for reaping and threshing, but the downpour has caused losses to the farmers.

Arjun Gauns, from Kholpe-Sal, said, "We couldn't enjoy the fruits of our hard work on earlier occasions on account of wild animals, and now rains too have damaged our horticultural crops."

Sakharam Pednekar from Mayem said, "Through our hard work, we cultivated different varieties of paddy. Though, we were ready to enjoy the fruits, rain water accumulated in the fields damaging the crop,"

President of Shetkari Rakhan Manch, Ravan-Sattari, Atmaram Gawas said, "The rain has damaged the areca nut as well as other horticultural crops."

Dnyaneshwar Salelkar, the executive engineer of water resources department, Keri said, "This year, the catchment area of the Anjunem irrigation project has received heavy rains for last two days. As a precautionary measure, we have released 5 cumecs of water by opening only one gate. Presently, the dam reservoir level is 93.24 meters."

In Sattari, the tuber crops like katyokangyo, karande, madyo were ready for harvesting. But rains interrupted work of digging out these tuber crops. If the rains continue, it will affect the yield of these crops, claimed Subhadra Arjun Gawas from Ghoteli No. 2, Sattari.

Zonal agricultural officer Anant Hoble said that famers from Bicholim and Sattari talukas will face severe losses this year due to the destruction of their paddy produce. "There is a possibility of heavy showers within the next couple of days due to which there is also a possibility of additional losses," he added.

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