Three districts likely to have bumper Sali rice production this year

A CORRESPONDENT

NAGAON: Crop damage by elephants reduced to almost half this season in three central Assam districts – Nagaon, Morigaon and Hojai - because of early harvesting in plain areas, claimed the agriculture department.

A high-level official in the agriculture department said that in comparison to last few years, recorded movement of elephants in paddy areas during harvesting had been less for reasons unknown.

"We feel this year harvesting in foothill areas started after the end of harvesting in plain areas. Normally it starts first in the foothills and that follows harvesting in plain areas. This year when elephant herds moved in the plain area paddy fields, there was actually nothing for consumption," the department source said.

According to that source, less damage by elephants and upgradation of crop varieties gave the three central Assam districts a bumper Sali rice production this year. "We feel Nagaon is going to cross 2.70 lakh MT production during the last Sali rice season. If everything goes well the district's annual rice production will touch 5.30 lakh MT," the source said.

Man-elephant conflict is a burning issue in the three central Assam districts since long. Elephants from neighbouring reserve forests of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat create panic among the villagers, especially at the time of rice harvesting every year.

According to a forest department source, movement of elephants in paddy areas of the plain region away from reserve forest has been mysteriously less than other years. In 2020, elephants killed one person in Koliabor area under Nagaon forest division and four in areas under Hojai forest division.

Also Read: First-ever successful trial run of helicopter services at Haflong

Also Watch: CEC meets political party leaders ahead of Assam polls