States » NorthPosted at: Oct 30 2026 7:04PM


Untimely rain threatens paddy harvest in Chhattisgarh, CM orders damage assessment

Shishir Roy Chowdhury
Raipur, Oct 30 (UNI) With paddy procurement scheduled to begin on November 15, farmers across Chhattisgarh are facing fresh uncertainty after three days of unseasonal rain and strong winds damaged standing crops in several parts of the state. For many cultivators, this is the second setback in barely a month.
Rain triggered by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal had already damaged crops. The latest spell, associated with Cyclone Arnab, has compounded their losses just as they were preparing for the harvest.
In several parts of rural Chhattisgarh, strong winds have flattened standing paddy crops. Waterlogging and prolonged moisture have raised fears of grain deterioration and rotting of paddy panicles. Harvesting has also been disrupted, leaving farmers with little opportunity to protect their remaining crops. The immediate concern of the farmers is whether the damaged grain will retain the quality required for procurement. Delays in harvesting and deterioration in grain quality could make it difficult for them to sell their produce at the minimum support price.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed all district collectors to conduct an immediate assessment of crop losses and ensure that eligible farmers receive assistance without delay. He has asked district administrations to act with urgency and sensitivity so that affected cultivators do not face difficulties in accessing relief. The assistance is to be provided to eligible farmers under the provisions of Revenue Book Circular (RBC) 6-4 and the prescribed norms. Sai has instructed officials to avoid unnecessary delays, from the initial survey to the distribution of financial assistance.
Meanwhile, the agriculture experts have advised farmers to postpone harvesting mature paddy until weather conditions improve. They have also recommended draining excess water from fields and moving harvested paddy and fodder to higher, safer locations, where they should be covered with tarpaulins. Vegetables ready for harvest should be picked and sent to markets promptly. Farmers have also been advised to move livestock to safe places and inform their insurance companies immediately in case of crop damage.
State Congress president Deepak Baij, however, has demanded an immediate crop-loss survey and a one-time compensation of Rs 70,518 per acre for fields where paddy has been completely destroyed. His calculation is based on 21 quintals per acre at Rs 3,358 per quintal. Referring to union Home Minister Amit Shah's assurance of all possible assistance to Chhattisgarh, Baij alleged that the state government had failed to properly assess crop losses caused by excessive rainfall, adverse weather and pest attacks.
He said that farmers were already grappling with uncertainty over procurement, alleged irregularities in token allocation and weighing, and disruption of revenue services due to the patwari strike. Baij also questioned the government's preparations for the November 15 procurement season. He said there was still no clarity on the duration of procurement or arrangements for tokens, weighing, transportation, and milling.
The Congress leader claimed that the patwari strike had left revenue cases pending for months, affecting land partition, mutation, changes in land records following deaths and documentation required for crop loans. Rising costs of fertilisers, seeds, diesel and agricultural labour had already put pressure on farm incomes, Baij said. Further crop losses could push cultivators deeper into debt, he warned.
He also demanded the release of pending payments, citing Rs 1,700 crore under the fourth instalment of the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and Rs 4,366 crore as the difference arising from minimum support price increases over the past two years. He put the total outstanding amount at Rs 6,066 crore.
The Chief Minister's directive has set the process of assessing crop damage in motion, while the Congress has sought a separate compensation announcement. The actual scale of the losses will emerge once the district-level surveys are completed. For now, farmers are looking to the skies, hoping the clouds will clear and give them a window to harvest their crop. With procurement just weeks away, they are also waiting to see whether the promised government assistance will reach them in time.
UNI SRC RSA
Tags: #Untimely rain threatens paddy harvest in Chhattisgarh# CM orders damage assessment
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