PANAJI
Tilling and sowing operations of paddy fields in Goa have been thrown in disarray due to disruption first by the cyclone and later by the devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
First, the heavy rains brought in by the Cyclone Tauktae flooded the low-lying khazans even before traditional Goan farmers were ready to plough their fields.
Secondly, with most having shifted to using mechanised modes for ploughing and even sowing (transplanting) due to the prohibitively high labour costs, they are dependent on service providers most of who are severely affected for their manpower needs due to the Covid-19 second wave.
Agriculture department officials have admitted that the kharif season sowing is getting delayed due to many service providers being unable to manage manpower to operate the tractors and power tillers for the mechanised ploughing operations.
One zonal agricultural officer (ZAO) said this will be the third year in a row that the kharif season paddy sowing will have been affected in Goa.
First in 2019, floods had submerged and damaged crop weeks before harvest time. Last year, the lockdown and the first wave of the Covid-19 infections had adversely affected kharif sowing operations.
"This Kharif season, it's the cyclone Tauktae and now the second wave of Covid-19 infections which is derailing the paddy farming operations," said the ZAO, adding that hopefully in a week's time the operations will normalise and the weather too does not play truant.
Small land holdings is another issue which is making coordinating the schedule of mechanised tilling/ploughing operations in the fields of multiple owners.
"The operations become easier and seamless if the owners come together and allocate specific time for mechanised ploughing in each one's field," the ZAO said, adding that it also reduces costs as tractor/power tiller hiring and operating charges are on an hourly basis.
