Some of the many paddy fields damaged in Agonda village.
CANACONA
Heavy rains have flattened vast stretches of paddy fields in Canacona, damaging the crop to a large extent while also affecting harvesting operations for around 2,500 hectares of kharif paddy cultivation in the taluka.
At Mone in Cotigao village, several fields remained waterlogged, and fallen paddy grains began to sprout due to prolonged flooding.
“Most of the flattening occurred during the downpour on Friday, affecting farmers across multiple villages in the taluka. However, the fallen paddy can still be harvested if rainfall stops for at least three days,” informed Canacona Zonal Agricultural Officer Mahendra Pagi.
Stating that three harvesters scheduled for paddy fields in Poinguinim have been delayed on account of the rains, Pagi also informed that rains have affected the harvesting operations of around 2,500 hectares of kharif paddy cultivation in the taluka.
Incidentally, unlike the other talukas in the State, sowing of paddy fields in Canacona is taken up as late as the end of July, while the cultivated paddy crop is harvested mainly in the latter part of November and December, with the crop cycle ranging from 110 to 150 days or more.
Meanwhile, the incessant rains accompanied by lightning and thunder continued to affect normal life in Canacona taluka.
