Aldona have struggled with unpredictable weather patterns during the sowing season. Excess rainfall at the very start of the agricultural cycle has often washed away seeds and damaged saplings before they could take root, leading to financial losses and reduced yields. However, this year brought a rare and welcome change. The monsoon arrived in a timely and balanced manner, allowing farmers to complete the sowing of paddy without disruption. With healthy saplings flourishing in their fields, many cultivators were hopeful that this season would finally bring them an abundant harvest.
Unfortunately, just when the crop was ready for harvesting, the weather once again turned unfavourable. Continuous rains over the past several days have soaked the matured paddy fields, bringing harvesting activity to an abrupt halt. Instead of the golden-yellow fields farmers eagerly wait for all year, vast stretches of farmland now lie submerged in rainwater. The very rains that spared them during sowing have returned with intensity during harvest, placing their hard work and investment in jeopardy.
Farmers now find themselves helpless, forced to simply wait and watch the skies. With no clear break in the monsoon and the sun hidden for days, they fear that their standing crop will start rotting if the fields remain waterlogged. Paddy, which requires careful drying after harvest, is highly vulnerable to moisture. The longer it stays soaked, the greater the risk of fungal infection, sprouting, loss of grain weight, and eventual spoilage. What was expected to be a promising season is turning into a race against time.
Some farmers, unwilling to delay any further, have gone ahead and harvested their paddy despite the ongoing showers. Yet, even after cutting the crop, a new challenge awaits them — there is no sunlight to dry the grain, nor sufficient air circulation to remove moisture. Piled bundles of paddy lie covered in tarpaulin sheets, but these temporary measures offer only limited protection. The cultivators now fear they may lose their harvested grain if the rains do not stop soon.
Harvesting machines, which were booked in advance and are on standby at the fields, remain idle. Operators and labourers, too, wait for favourable weather to resume work.
In many places, the unrelenting rain has also caused the paddy stalks to bend and lodge to the ground. Water accumulation in the fields has led to re-rooting of fallen stalks, complicating the harvesting process further.
“ When paddy collapses onto the soil and begins to sprout prematurely, it becomes extremely difficult to harvest using machines, and the quality of the grain declines drastically”
With no control over the situation, farmers are left with little choice but to pray for clear skies. What they desperately need now is at least a few days of bright sunshine and steady dry winds to salvage their produce. If the weather does not improve immediately, a large percentage of the season’s yield could be lost, pushing many farming families into financial distress.
Babani Redkar, Traditional farmer: “This year, the farming activity was very good, and the crop too has turned out excellent. But it’s sad to see it getting spoiled because of the continuous rains. Even at the time of harvest, the rain hasn’t stopped. The machines are ready, but the weather is playing havoc. Farmers have worked hard for months and were expecting a good yield — and they did get one — but now the rain is ruining it. Everyone is tense and waiting for good weather before the crop is completely spoiled. We’re all praying for clear skies so that our hard work finally pays off.”
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Pandurang Chodankar, Traditional farmer: “This year, due to the continuous rain, the paddy crop is getting damaged. The plants have fallen to the ground, and re-sprouting has already begun. Though the machines are ready, we can’t harvest because of the rain and waterlogging in the fields. The sky remains cloudy, and we’re unable to do anything. The season started well, and we had hoped for a good yield, but now the rain is ruining all our hard work. Once the weather clears, we can finally begin the harvest again.”
Vishnu Matonkar, Traditional farmer: “This year, the crop was very good, but the rains during harvest have caused huge losses to farmers. The fields are now filled with water due to continuous rainfall, and the paddy lying on the ground has started sprouting again. Those who have already harvested are waiting for some sun and dry air, but the sky remains cloudy.”
Mrs Chari, Traditional farmer: “This year, I cultivated paddy and even managed to harvest it despite the rains. But now, because of the continuous showers, we can’t do anything. The moment we try to open the grain for drying or airing, the weather changes again. Many farmers are waiting for a spell of good weather, hoping for some sun. Some crops are already lying on the ground, some have started re-sprouting, and though the machines are ready, everything is in a mess. The crop was excellent this year, but now it’s all at risk.”
