NUANKHAI: COSTLY SARIAN PADDY CREATES HOLE IN POCKET Friday, 25 August 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

NUANKHAI: COSTLY SARIAN PADDY CREATES HOLE IN POCKET

Friday, 25 August 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Sarian paddy harvest has been very low this year due to inadequate rains and this is going to hit the mass festival of Nuankhai in western Odisha where the paddy variety is used to prepare Bhog to the deities and later consumed by the people as the first crop.

Due to paucity, the paddy which s sold in the market has become costly. A three bundles of Sarian paddy costs Rs 20 in the market these days. In earlier years, it used to be sold at twice less.

This has pinched the lower middle class people whose pockets have gone for big holes. The rise in price of vegetables and onions has also added to their woes.

The price of tomato per kilogram is Rs 60 and onion is Rs 40. It would go up further in forthcoming days, says a shopkeeper in the daily market here.

This year the Sarian paddy has not grown well. Rainfall has stopped. Hence, its availability has declined, told a paddy seller.

It may be note here that Sarian is a 60-day upland variety paddy which is broadcast by June and is ready by the end of August. Being the first crop, it is offered to the deities first.

 “We have our field located below a Muda (traditional water body). Last year, there was sufficient water and the harvest was good. This year, there is barely knee -deep water and it would of no use. Agriculture operations have been held up due to lack of rainfall,” said a farmer who had come to sell Sarian paddy.