Cuttack, Jan 25: Inclement weather for the last few days has caused substantial damage to standing cabbage and cauliflower crops in Cuttack district leaving farmers worried.
Farmers are hurriedly harvesting and selling the produce at less prices to minimise losses due to prolonged cloudy weather accompanied by occasional rains, with tomato, cabbage and cauliflower being the most affected.
While cabbage with exposure to rains is getting stiff and developing cracks, the cauliflower is getting discoloured.
Price of cauliflower that was Rs 30 per one has dropped to Rs 10 per three. The farmers of the district are worried about harvesting of cabbage and cauliflower crops in 1800 hectares of farmland.
The farmers are suffering the most and falling victim to distress sale due to lack of cold storage. Though there are some private-run cold storages in some blocks, the rent is not pocket friendly.
Farmers widely cultivate cabbage and cauliflower in Athagarh, Banki, Tigiria, Badamba, Salipur, Nischintakoili, Mahanga and Niali blocks in Cuttack district. They depend on Cuttack and Bhubaneswar city along with local supply. However, the demand has reduced following large scale production forcing farmers to distress sale.