Ponda: The estimated agricultural loss in Ponda taluka due to extreme rainfall is approximately Rs 56 lakh, with around 80 to 100 hectares of farmland damaged, affecting approximately 500 farmers. Zonal Agriculture Officers Rajesh D’Costa and Nagesh Komarpant, whose team is currently inspecting the crop damage, aim to complete the tabulation of compensation before Ganesh Chaturthi.
They said that the taluka’s farmers have lost cucurbit, arecanut, paddy, and other horticulture crops.
Cucurbit farmers, known locally as malekars, have been particularly hard hit. Of the 400-plus malekars in the taluka, 250 have reported crop losses to the Agriculture Department. The most affected areas include Farmagudi, Priol, Mardol, Curti, and Bethoda. Many of these farmers are non-Krishi card holders and cultivate tenanted land, often based on verbal leases. The estimated loss for these farmers is around Rs 16 lakh.
Khazan paddy fields near riverbanks in Khandola, Marcel, Marcaim, and Shiroda were also destroyed, with nearly all farmers in these areas reporting crop damage. Additionally, arecanut and coconut farms, which constitute the majority of Ponda taluka’s horticulture, suffered significant damage. Many arecanut trees were crushed by falling large trees. According to ZAO Ponda, over 500 compensation applications have been received to date. Of these, approximately 156, valued at Rs 26 lakh, have been cleared, with around Rs 10 lakh already disbursed to Krishi card holders. The ZAO has completed inspections for non-Krishi card holders, particularly the malekars, with an estimated loss of Rs 16 lakh. Other pending applications, estimated to account for around Rs 14 lakh in losses, are awaiting site inspections.
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