Cyclone Impact / Debt and despair floods leave Ganjam farmers counting losses

Brahmapur, Nov 1: The devastating floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab have left a trail of destruction across Odisha’s Ganjam district, dealing a severe blow to hundreds of farmers who were hoping for a good harvest this season.

Vast stretches of agricultural land remained submerged for nearly two days, destroying standing crops and pushing farming families into uncertainty.

The worst-hit areas include Purushottampur and its surrounding regions, where floodwaters engulfed paddy fields and vegetable farms. Farmers who had invested heavily in cultivation through loans and borrowings have suffered extensive losses as the floodwaters swept away their crops.

Also read: Odisha deploys additional engineers to speed up Brahmapur restoration

What was once a sea of ripening paddy now presents a grim picture of sand deposits, slush and damaged fields. The destruction has shattered the hopes of farmers who were preparing to harvest their produce and earn an income after months of hard work.

Apart from paddy cultivation, several vegetable-growing belts such as Achuli, Pratappur and Handighara have also reported significant damage. Crops including chilli, bitter gourd, cucumber, brinjal and okra have been severely affected after remaining inundated under floodwaters.

The losses are expected to impact both farmers' livelihoods and local agricultural output in the coming months.

For many cultivators, the disaster has created a dual burden. While their crops have been destroyed, loan repayments still loom large. With no harvest to sell, several farmers now fear mounting debt and financial distress.