Patna: What began as an unusually wet pre-monsoon season has turned into a season of despair for thousands of farmers in Bihar. Two spells of rain, accompanied by strong winds and hailstorms in March and May, have not only damaged standing crops and fruit orchards but also pushed down market prices, leaving cultivators struggling on multiple fronts.For many farmers, the crisis is being described as a “triple blow” — crop loss, destruction of horticultural yields and falling returns in the market.The first spell of rain and hailstorm struck north Bihar in the third and fourth weeks of March. According to the agriculture department, more than 33% crop damage was recorded in 111 blocks spread across 12 districts, including Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Begusarai, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Khagaria, Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and Bhagalpur.The damage came at a critical stage of the Rabi season. Winter maize was nearing maturity, wheat was ready for harvest and pulses such as masur and gram stood exposed in the fields. Mustard crops too suffered losses.Yet the blow to Bihar’s famed mango and litchi belt may prove even more severe economically. Unseasonal rain and hailstorms first destroyed the delicate blossoms, locally called manjar, before later storms damaged the tikola, or baby mangoes, reducing hopes of a strong fruit season.Farmers estimate that 60-70% of mango blossoms and young fruits have been damaged, while litchi cultivation has suffered losses of nearly 40%.The second spell of rain in May compounded the crisis. Farmers who had already harvested and cleaned their wheat, oilseeds and pulses were forced to rush outdoors to protect stored produce from sudden storms and hail.“By the grace of gods, my standing maize crops did not suffer much damage in the first spell of rains in March, as my maize-cropped land was dry and the rains helped it. However, the rains and strong winds received in May destroyed everything,” said Kumud Singh alias Tiku from Falka block in Katihar district.“Why only me, several other farmers have been left despondent. Worse still, the market prices of maize have fallen to Rs 1,500-1,600 per quintal,” Kumud said.The anxiety is equally visible among orchard owners across north and east Bihar, where mango and litchi cultivation forms an important rural economy.“Last year, one farmer of my village had sold his mango and litchi orchard to a paikar (trader) for Rs 80,000, but this year the price fell to Rs 15,000 due to the damage caused,” said Pakku Singh from Guagachhi village in Katihar district.
