Incessant rains in Goa may hamper paddy crop

State agriculture department said continuous rains resulting in the fields getting inundated is not good for the paddy cultivation

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As incessant rains continued to lash Goa, paddy growers are worried that the constant downpour might result in a poor yield this season.

State agriculture department which is monitoring the situation has said continuous rains resulting in the fields getting inundated is not good for the paddy cultivation.

"It should not rain for a day or two so that the water recedes out. The plantation has began just now," State Agriculture director Ulhas Pai Kakode told PTI on Thursday.

Goa has approximately 28,000 hectares of land under paddy cultivation during monsoon, and this time around acreage is likely to be more, he said, adding that on an average each hectare produces four tonnes of rice.

The rice is cultivated in majority of the rural areas of the state.

"The met department had alerted about the rains but the water level in rice fields are always dependent on low tide and high tide (of the sea)," he added.

Monsoon, which arrived after a delay of fortnight, has been continuously lashing the state with 1215 mm of rains till this afternoon, 326.1 mm more than the normal, the Indian Meteorological Observatory said in a bulletin on Thursday.

Rainfall is very likely to occur at most places in Goa during next five days.