After the recent rains, farmers have started harvesting more paddy in order to shift it from the open fields to avoid further damage to the crop. Though a reasonably good crop is being harvested now, the problem of discolouration of paddy poses a risk to farmers.
The district administration has already initiated measures to prevent any losses to farmers by ensuring that they get Minimum Support Price through paddy purchase centres all over the district. This kharif season, farmers are getting a harvest of 25 to 28 quintals paddy per acre. The only concern expressed by farmers is that the rains have come at a time when they were expecting good returns. “There was pest problem after the rains. We are shifting the harvested crop to enclosed areas. It will take some time for the paddy to dry up,” said Gumma Vishnuvardhan, a farmer belonging to Penuballi village.
Mr. Vishnuvardhan said that there was not much difference in the yield when compared to last year. He has cultivated paddy in about 10 acres this year.
