Cyclone Bulbul: Inundated fields trigger veggie price-rise fear in Hooghly

HOOGHLY: The cyclonic rain played havoc with Bengal crops, especially potatoes, and farmers have become anxious of heavy loss because of delayed harvesting and sowing. Though a section of consumers feared the delay in harvesting might lead to a spike in vegetable prices at city markets, experts said it was too early to say that. On Sunday, farms across Hooghly and Burdwan were found submerged under 6-11inches of water.While vegetable crops may rot, there is likely to be at least a fortnight’s delay in Rabi crops.
Bengal, which is second in potato production to Uttar Pradesh, has begun sowing the Jaldi potato that arrives in markets before the crops from other states. But this time, water in the fields are likely to delay the sowing at least by a fortnight. “Bengal may be flooded with potatoes from Punjab and UP this time, causing huge loss to us,” said Sarfaraz Shah, a farmer from Mayapur in Arambagh.
The paddy crop is facing a similar crisis. Though it is harvesting time, the Aman paddy is standing in rainwater. “We are the top growers of rice across the country. But this delayed sowing will hit us badly. We hope a scorching sun will dry the fields so we can carry out the harvesting without delay,” said Asoke Ghosh, another farmer from Arambagh.
Potato needs 88 days from the day of sowing to be harvested. By the time this season’s crops are ready, farmers fear the Punjab and UP potatoes will have flooded the Bengal market. Last year, Bengal produced 1.1 crore tonnes of potato and 1.6 crore tonnes of Aman rice. Farmers said they feared that the farm production may be reduced this year.
The winter vegetables have also suffered a jolt. “Unless the stagnant water in the fields dries up, the vegetables are in danger of rotting,” said a farmer from Burdwan.