Farmers speed up paddy harvesting to beat the rain

Farmers in Odisha have stepped up the process of harvesting paddy as the meteorological department has predicted rain and thundershower in several parts of the state in the next 24 hours .
A well-marked low pressure has formed on the southwest Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood, triggering possibility of rain in the next couple of days, the MeT Centre here said.
The associated upper air cyclonic circulation has extended up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, it said.
"Rain or thundershower is likely to occur at a few places over south Odisha during the next 24 hours," said Sarat Sahu, director of the Meteorological Centre here.

The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase in the next couple of days, he said.
Surface wind from the northeasterly direction with a speed of 30 to 40 kmph and gusting up to 50 kmph is likely to prevail along and off the Odisha Coast, Sahu said.

Sea condition is likely to be moderate to rough, the MeT office said, advising fishermen to stay on guard while venturing into the sea.
The Odisha government had on Friday advised the farmers to harvest ripen paddy and store them in safe places.
In a letter to the collectors of all 30 districts, special relief commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi had said farmers should stack their harvested paddy under suitable cover to avoid any loss or damage due to rains.

Following the state government's advisory yesterday, farmers in several parts of the state have speeded up the process of cutting ripe crops.