Gujarat's Surat is witnessing an unexpected and sudden change in the weather on Friday, with heavy rains being reported since early morning in Bardoli and the surrounding areas. According to local news reports, the heavy downpour has caused widespread crop damage in the region.
Major damage to sugarcane and paddy crops was reported in Surat, as it is harvest season in Gujarat. Farmers across villages of Bardoli, Baben, Afwa, and Isroli are likely to experience crop loss due to the showers, a Gujarati media report said.
The downpour has brought the sugarcane harvest in Surat to a complete halt, Sandesh said in a report. Many fields have submerged, making it impossible to continue the harvest. The situation is no different for paddy farmers, who also now worry about financial losses.
Initially, residents of Surat welcomed the unexpected arrival of rain clouds, as they brought relief from the intense heat that had persisted over the past several days. However, things changed soon when the farmers realised they would not be able to resume harvest activities in their waterlogged fields and may even lose their crops to it. Particularly hit are the sugarcane and rice that were reaped and left to dry in recent days. The showers could spoil them or deteriorate their quality, the ryots fear.
Farmers in the region have urged the state government to immediately conduct a survey of the crop losses caused by the rain and to provide appropriate compensation, the Sandesh report said. Losses could amount to lakhs of rupees for many of them who may find it difficult to prepare for the next farming season without financial assistance, it added.
This unseasonal rain has seriously affected the main agricultural crops of Surat district. In particular, sugarcane harvesting, which is currently underway, has come to a complete halt due to the rainfall. The fields have become waterlogged, making it impossible to continue the harvest. Additionally, farmers who have grown paddy (rice) are also facing severe difficulties. For crops that were ready for harvest or had already been harvested and left to dry, the rain has raised fears of damage and deterioration in quality. Farmers worry that the spoiled crops could cause them heavy financial losses.
Gujarat rains to resume for two more days
According to the weather department's (IMD) forecast, Gujarat can expect rain until November 3, Monday. A yellow alert for heavy rain has been issued in four districts of the Saurashtra region, ABP said in a report. Cloudy weather was observed in the upper parts of Gujarat since this morning, and Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Tapi, and Navsari have also been placed under yellow alert, the report added.