Thunderstorm, rain damage maize crops in Katihar district

KATIHAR: Thunderstorm, accompanied by rain of more than an hour, on Sunday damaged processed maize kept in an open space for drying purpose as well as harvested crops lying in farmlands under Korha block of the district. Besides, several farmers rue their lot because high moisture content as well as lack of storage facility forced them to sell their produce at a throwaway price.
Bhairav Mahaldar, 45, an operator of a mobile corn grinding machine, said, “We knocked at the doors of at least 15 farmers, asking them to give their produce for corn grinding.But we were turned away, because rain played a spoilsport, leading to rise in moisture content in the corn.”
Praveen Kumar, 42, a farmer under ward number 15 of Musapur, said, “At least 90 quintals of maize produced in three bighas of land were damaged due to rain and thunderstorm. Sprouts have formed in the maize crops and it will be of no use for human consumption or making other products, except for animal fodder.”
He said unlike previous years, they were selling their produce at a throwaway price. “This year, we sold processed 60 quintals of maize at Rs1331 per quintal, which was quite disappointing. I was expecting a price of Rs1500 per quintal, at least,” said Kumar, adding, “At least 2 years ago, the price of maize was Rs2,400 per quintal and consequently dropped to Rs 2,000 and then to Rs1,800 and finally it came down to Rs1,300 per quintal,” he added.
Ramesh Sharma, another farmer of Korha, said, “I was hoping for a price of Rs2,000 per quintal, but was compelled to sell the produce at Rs1340 per quintal.”
When asked about the mounds of maize kept in an open field, Sharma said, “This field is adjacent to the Block Institute of Training and Education (BITE) building under Korha block where 300-400 small and big farmers dry their produce. On a normal day, at least 8-10 tractor trailers carry processed maize, each trailer containing at least 1,200 quintals, to Semapur railway rake point, Gulabbag grain market as well as Harda mandi. But, today, rain played spoilsport and everything has gone for a toss.”
District agriculture officer Dinesh Kumar Dinkar said, “We received a crop damage report after the field survey in April this year also. Gale and rain caused damage to maize crops in 100 acres of land. If the damage of crops is 33%, then only farmers are compensated for their losses. In May also, we will conduct a field survey and the report will be sent to our statistical department, which will send it to the disaster management department.”