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By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 14, 2021: A six-member inter-ministerial central team said that standing Kharif crops in Odisha have suffered extensive damage due to rainfall triggered by cyclone Jawad earlier this month, and farmers are facing losses.

Saurav Ray, joint secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, following a visit with his team to six affected districts of the state – Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur and Kendrapara – told reporters that farmers need support and assistance from the government.

During the day, Ray held a meeting with the state government officials, including Chief Secretary S C Mohaptra and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena, official sources said.

The SRC informed the team that standing crops on more than 5.78 lakh hectares in 131 blocks of twelve districts have suffered damage in the rain, according to the official.

Jena said farmers could not sow Rabi crops as fields lay inundated. Odisha’s climate was not conducive for late Rabi crop, he said.

Jena said that a ground-level assessment, currently underway, would be completed in seven days, following which a report will be sent to the team.

The chief secretary told the team that the crops had almost ripened when the cyclone arrived, accompanied by heavy rainfall.

He further said that Odisha was set to register a bumper harvest this year had there been no cyclone, as the deficit rainfall during early monsoons was compensated by heavy showers later in the year.