Farmers panic as paddy gets washed away in rain

KARIMNAGAR: Unexpected and untimely heavy rain that lashed for half-an-hour in the early hours of Thursday created havoc among farmers after their paddy produce got wet and washed away at the procurement centres in Ganneruvram mandal headquarter.

Panicked farmers were seen trying to shield their harvest. Farmers requested the authorities to expedite the procurement process and supply adequate tarpaulin sheets to protect the paddy heaps in light of heavy rains predicted over the next four days.

They expressed concerns over officials not purchasing the harvest if the moisture content increases beyond the mandated 17 percent by the government due to rains. According to reports, about 2,73,397 acres of paddy was cultivated.