MARGAO
Farmers as well as agricultural officials fear heavy losses in view of the incessant and heavy rains that lashed Salcete taluka in the last few days.
Large tracts of paddy fields still lie submerged in many villages, including Nuvem, Verna, Betalbatim, Seraulim, and the khazan fields at Loutolim and Curtorim.
Sources in the agricultural department pointed out that paddy seedlings rot if they are submerged under water for more than five days. “Since the rains have caused havoc in the last few days, many farmers have claimed losses,” informed sources in the agricultural department.
Sources pointed out that farmers from Navelim, Telaulim, Chinchinim, Carmona, and other villages had completed the sowing operations only recently, before the fields were inundated by the heavy rains.
Agricultural officers, meanwhile, have advised the farmers who have sustained losses due to the destruction of the paddy seedlings to lodge complaints with the agriculture office as per the laid down guidelines for compensation.
Meanwhile, farmers from Nuvem, Seraulim, and Mungul have complained of large-scale inundation of the paddy fields by the heavy rains. Seraulim ex-Panch member Kevin D’Souza has pointed out that paddy seedlings sown in the village fields have all been lying under water for the last few days.
“With the flood waters not receding till date, we fear the seedlings must have rotted by now,” he said.
