Double blow to paddy farming: Crop survives floods in some places while hail ruins hard work elsewhere

New Delhi/Ground Bureau — A contrasting picture is emerging from various parts of the country regarding paddy cultivation. While unseasonal heavy rain and erratic weather have ruined months of hard work for many farmers, inspiring stories of crop survival have also surfaced from places like Darbhanga, Bihar. Paddy remains the financial backbone for millions of rural families, making the current harvest season critical.

In Darbhanga, a farmer has set an inspiring example by saving his paddy crop despite it remaining submerged in floodwater for fourteen consecutive days. Normally, such prolonged waterlogging rots the crop completely, but careful crop management protected the grain from total destruction.

Devastation in Jammu-Kashmir and Rohtas

In sharp contrast, heavy rains and hailstorms have ravaged ready-to-harvest paddy fields in Jammu-Kashmir, leaving farmers devastated. Similar scenes unfolded in Rohtas, Bihar, where high-speed winds and rain flattened standing crops, threatening grain quality and yield.

Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, the government has increased the Minimum Support Price for paddy by 72 rupees, with over 500 purchase centers scheduled to open from October 15 to aid farmers.