A spell of severe pre-monsoon weather has caused extensive damage to standing rabi paddy crops in Koraput, where persistent hailstorms, lightning and high-velocity winds over the past three days have hit several agricultural pockets.
Large stretches of farmland in the blocks of Jeypore, Kundra and Borigumma have been affected, leaving farmers worried about heavy crop losses just weeks before harvest.
Flowering Stage Makes Damage More Serious
The weather has struck at a particularly sensitive time for the crop.
According to agricultural experts, much of the rabi paddy in these areas is currently at the flowering stage — a critical phase that directly determines grain formation. Damage during this period can sharply reduce productivity and affect the final yield.
Repeated hail impact, accompanied by gusty winds, has flattened significant portions of standing paddy fields. Heavy rain and lightning have further intensified stress on the crops, raising fears of large-scale yield loss.
Around 25,000 Hectares Under Cultivation
Farmers in the affected region had brought nearly 25,000 hectares under rabi paddy cultivation during the January-February sowing season.
Much of this cultivation depends on irrigation from the Upper Kolab Dam reservoir. Until the recent weather disturbance, the crop had reportedly shown healthy growth, giving farmers hope for a strong harvest.
The sudden hailstorm spell, however, has disrupted those expectations and created fresh uncertainty across the local farm economy.
Farmers Fear Heavy Financial Losses
For many farmers in Koraput, the flattened crops could mean not only reduced output but also serious financial stress, as investment costs for seed, irrigation, labour and fertilisers had already been incurred.
The combination of hail damage and lodging of plants is likely to affect grain development significantly if weather conditions do not improve quickly.
Assessment of Crop Loss Expected
Local authorities are expected to conduct field-level assessments in the coming days to estimate the scale of agricultural damage.
Farmers across Jeypore, Kundra and Borigumma are now awaiting official evaluation and possible relief measures as unstable weather continues to affect several parts of Odisha.
