Surat: In line with the meteorological department’s forecast, heavy unseasonal rain late Tuesday night has caused significant losses to farmers in Surat district, particularly in Kudusad village of Olpad taluka. The sudden downpour soaked harvested paddy crops left out in the open to dry, resulting in major economic setbacks for the farming community.
Farmers had placed their ripe paddy near the village pond to dry under the sun after harvesting, in preparation for market sale. The drying process is crucial for ensuring better pricing, but the unexpected rain soaked the entire produce, rendering it unfit for sale.
As per report, several farmers in the village have suffered losses amounting to lakhs of rupees. With no immediate prospects of recovering their investment, many have called on the government to conduct an urgent crop loss survey and provide financial compensation. They fear that if timely relief is not provided, those already burdened with debt may sink further into crisis.
Farmers’ associations and cooperative societies have also been urged to step in and support the affected families. Local administrative officials stated that they would soon visit the area to assess the damage and submit a report to the state government for necessary action.
One distressed farmer expressed his frustration, stating that months of hard work have gone to waste. He added that the only hope now lies in the government's willingness to acknowledge their plight and provide timely assistance.
This episode of unseasonal rain not only raises concerns about the unpredictability of weather patterns but also highlights the fragile condition of rural agrarian livelihoods. All eyes are now on the authorities to see what relief measures will be initiated in response to the crisis.
