BHUBANESWAR: More sun, less rain. The monsoon seems to have left Orissa high and dry. And with no sign of any weather system forming over the next week or so, worse might be in store. At present, farmers cannot go ahead with the weeding process as the farmlands have dried up. Transplantation is to follow but only if there is adequate rain which appears unlikely.
KENDRAPARA: Around 29 villages inhabited by 35,000 villagers within Bhitarakanika National Park have no proper road communication system, thanks to government indifference. Due to this reason, villagers, who mostly depend on agriculture and pisciculture, find it difficult to sell their products, particularly perishable items.
A farmer of Hagaribagija village, on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself yesterday following crop failure in the recent floods. The deceased farmer, Ananta Charana Rout (54) had raised paddy on two acres of land after obtaining a loan of Rs 40,000 from two money lenders for purchasing paddy seed and fertiliser. However, the paddy saplings were damaged in the recent floods due to which, Rout had to face loss.
