Jagatsinghpur, Oct 23: As Cyclone Dana approaches, farmers across the region are bracing for potential devastation to their livelihoods. With the storm expected to make landfall imminently, many are anxiously monitoring weather reports and preparing for the worst.
Farmers in low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable, fearing that heavy rains and strong winds could lead to severe crop damage and flooding. “We’ve worked hard all season, and just like that, it can all be lost,” said Rajesh Kumar, a rice farmer from a nearby village of Jagatsinghpur. “Our families depend on this harvest. The cyclone couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
The impact of the cyclone is compounded by the fact that many farmers are still recovering from the effects of last year’s erratic weather patterns. Crop failures and low market prices have left them financially strained, making the looming threat of Cyclone Dana even more alarming. Local agricultural experts warn that if the cyclone brings heavy rainfall, it could wash away young plants and make fields unworkable for weeks.
In response, farmers are taking proactive measures to protect their crops. Some are reinforcing their fields with sandbags, while others are moving vulnerable produce to higher ground. “We’re doing everything we can to protect our crops,” said Anita Sahu of Pradhani Panchayat of Dhamnagar, who grows rice paddy. “But nature can be unpredictable, and we’re all scared of what might happen.”
The government has issued warnings and advice for farmers to secure their equipment and livestock, but many feel that more needs to be done. “We need better infrastructure to deal with these kinds of natural disasters,” Anita added. “The support we receive after a cyclone is often too little, too late.”
