Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has pledged swift financial assistance to farmers devastated by unseasonal rains that caused massive crop losses across the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari announced on Tuesday that compensation disbursal has already begun and affected farmers will receive aid within five days.
The government has set compensation rates at Rs15,000 per hectare for irrigated farmland and Rs 7,500 per hectare for non-irrigated land. Minister Pujari confirmed that district Collectors have been provided funds for immediate distribution. Based on damage assessments, the total loss to farmers has been pegged at Rs 292 crore, with over 6.66 lakh farmers affected across 2.26 lakh hectares of farmland.
The unseasonal rains wreaked havoc across 16 districts, with Puri and Ganjam among the worst affected. In Ganjam, over 60,000 hectares of farmland were damaged, while Puri reported damage to nearly 50,000 hectares Other affected districts include Sambalpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Kendrapara, among others.
Farmers in Ganjam and Puri, primarily reliant on paddy cultivation, have suffered heavy losses, while smaller-scale damage was reported in districts like Nayagarh and Nuapada. The state government is working to expedite the distribution of compensation, but logistical challenges in rural areas pose significant hurdles.
The crop damage and financial strain have led to a wave of alleged farmer suicides across the state. In Kendrapara district, three farmers—Daitari Jena, Bhabagrahi Malik, and Kailash Chandra Dhal—reportedly ended their lives in late December 2024 and early January 2025. All three were said to be struggling with crop losses caused by the rains.
In Ganjam district, 64-year-old farmer Banamali Penthoi from Barang village allegedly hanged himself on December 26 after paddy cultivated on five acres of land was destroyed. Chhatrapur Tehsildar Bidya Mohanty stated that investigations are ongoing, and assistance will be provided under the Red Cross fund and other applicable schemes.
Similar incidents were reported in Nayagarh, where two farmers, Debraj Barik and Bhagaban Pradhan, succumbed to heart attacks and brain strokes, allegedly due to stress caused by crop damage and debt. In Cuttack district, 75-year-old Kailash Pradhan from Mahangapada village collapsed and died in his farmland on December 31 after witnessing his paddy crops destroyed.
While the Odisha government has pledged timely compensation, the rising number of farmer deaths highlights the deep distress caused by crop losses. Minister Pujari reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the crisis and ensuring farmers receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives.
With unseasonal rains becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change, experts stress the need for stronger crop insurance schemes and sustainable farming practices to shield farmers from similar crises in the future. For now, Odisha’s focus remains on compensating the affected farmers and preventing further tragedies in its agricultural heartland.
