ROURKELA: Even as the harvesting time is nearing, over 1.66 lakh medium and marginal farmers in the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district are staring at bleak time. As per official reports, all 262 gram panchayats and 17 blocks have been affected by water-stress condition with the district receiving 29 per cent less rainfall. Sources said crop on over 64,000 high land, also called autumn paddy, have been declared highly affected and are in the harvesting stage. Similarly, crops on over 74,000 medium land are at ripening stage and crops on similar amount of low land are at the panicle emergence stage. Thankfully, there is no apprehension of damage to winter paddy, following rainfall in the first week of October. Deputy Director (Agriculture), Sundargarh, D C Sahu said the total paddy productivity might be less by 20 per cent this time. Farmers across the district, however, fear at least 50 per cent loss. The district administration had earlier set paddy yield target at 3.78 lakh tonne. Amid reports of scanty rainfall, the Government later revised the target to 17.9 quintal per hectare (ha) as normal. While 13.5 quintal yield per ha of high land crop is expected by the administration, it is 21 quintal for low and medium land crops. Barring Lefripara, Bonai, Lahunipara and Tangarpali blocks, considered less affected, farmers in the rest 13 blocks are spending sleepless nights fearing low crop yield.