Unseasonal rain hits Wayanad’s rice and coffee harvests

Farmers in Wayanad face challenges with rice and coffee harvests due to unseasonal rains, impacting machinery use and drying processes.

Wayanad, a key region for Robusta coffee and rice cultivation, is facing significant challenges due to unseasonal rains that have persisted for the past three days. Farmers are particularly concerned as their rice fields are ready for harvest, but unexpected downpours and winds have complicated the situation.

In recent years, farmers have increasingly relied on combined harvesters for rice harvesting, as they are cost-effective and efficient. However, the current wet conditions have rendered the fields too slushy for the machines to operate. Reports indicate that farmers in Thirunelly, Thrissilery, Pakkom, Panamaram, Appapara, and Kozhuvana have predominantly planted traditional tall rice varieties such as Gandhakasala, Jeerakassala, Thondy, and Palthody, all cultivated through organic methods.

The lodging tendency of these tall rice varieties during rain presents a significant challenge. Once the plants are lodged, combined harvesters cannot be utilised, forcing farmers to resort to manual harvesting, which is considerably more expensive. T. Santhosh Kumar, a member of the Thirunelly Padashekhara Samithi, said that while harvesting with combined machines costs approximately ₹2,500 per acre, manual harvesting can exceed ₹10,000 to ₹12,000.

Mr. Santhosh, who has cultivated Gandhakasala, Thondy, and Chomala on five acres, expressed deep concern over his investment of around ₹40,000 per acre, uncertain if he would recoup even half of that amount. The condition of thousands of farmers in the district is not different.

“This year, we will need to spend an additional ₹10,000 to process the paddy and dry the rain-soaked hay,” he lamented. The tall rice varieties are favoured for their market demand and higher prices.

Although many farmers have insured their paddy crops by paying a premium of ₹100 per acre, they may not benefit from this coverage, as it only applies to standing crops. As a result, farmers are appealing to the government for compensation to cover losses from crops damaged by natural calamities.

Despite the arrival of combined harvesters from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka weeks ago, the machines remain idle due to the adverse climate.