Panaji: The agriculture department’s preliminary assessment of crop loss shows that 25 hectares of paddy have been lost to poor rainfall this season.Agriculture director Chandrahas Desai said, “The assessment of crop damage is currently underway. Wherever crop losses have been reported in our areas, our officers are visiting the fields and estimating the extent of the damage. Eligible farmers will be considered for compensation.”“So far, crop damage has been reported across around 25 hectares, mainly in upland areas,” he added.TOI had earlier reported that this is Goa’s driest monsoon in five decades wherein the state received around 80 inches of rainfall between June 1 and Sept 30, against the seasonal average of nearly 118 inches, resulting in a deficit of about 32%.Post-monsoon, unusually high temperatures have continued to grip the state, adding to concerns over agricultural conditions following the deficient monsoon.The agriculture department’s assessment will determine the final extent of losses and compensation for eligible farmers.Meanwhile, high post-monsoon temperatures have persisted, with Panaji recording a maximum of 37.4°C on Wednesday, 5.2°C above normal.
