Jawad leaves behind a trail of devastation
Cyclone Jawad may have receded, but it has left behind a trail of devastation and inflicted untold miseries to farmers. Thousands of acres of paddy crop, vegetables and horticulture orchards have got ravaged in the rain, pushing the peasants into a state of desolation and despair.
A farmer in Ganjam district on Sunday evening committed suicide while many others who are ostensibly plunged into mental trauma following submergence of the crop in the rain water have threatened to take extreme step if the government does not make actual assessment of their loss and announce compensation.
The farmer who committed suicide was identified Kailash Shabar of Ulma village in Ganjam district. The deceased, as his family members said, ended his life by consuming pesticide after he saw his two acres of paddy was completely damaged in cyclone induced heavy downpour.
Jitendra Dalai, a farmer of Khalikote in Ganjam district said he had borrowed money from local cooperative societies to grow paddy and vegetables. However, the cyclone has dashed his dream and he has lost all hope of getting back his investment.
“I had high hopes that I will be getting bumper harvests this year. Besides meeting my food requirement for a whole year, I expected that I would get good returns from vegetable cultivation. Now, my dream has met its water grave,” said Jitendra.