Paddy fields in the high ranges of Idukki and Wayanad have faced an unusual problem this year. Panicles, or rice flower clusters, are not coming out of their sheaths properly. This has caused large crop damage. The Muttukad paddy fields in Idukki, known as the "rice bowl" near Munnar, are severely affected. Normally, the paddy here is ready for harvest in January. But in 2026, the panicles remain "choked" inside the plants. A.C. Thankachen Alathara, president of the Muttukad Padasekhara Samithy, said, "In our samithy, 19 farmers are cultivating 18 hectares of paddy. This is the first time the fields have experienced such an issue, and we will have no income this year." He added, "The area experienced extreme cold in December, and we suspect that is the cause." Varun Kumar A.V., Chinnakkanal Agriculture Officer, confirmed full damage in his area. "We inspected all fields and found large-scale crop loss. For further clarification, samples will be sent to the research stations under KAU," he said. Officials from Bison Valley reported that some panicles emerged, but many did not, causing many empty grains. Leaf disease called bacterial leaf blight was also found. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) advised pesticide use. Still, Bison Valley had over 60% crop loss across 18 hectares. Similar problems appeared in Makkuvalli paddy fields in Idukki’s Kanjikuzhi panchayat. Dr. Yamini Varma from the College of Agriculture, Wayanad, said, "Panicle choking has been reported across the high ranges of both Wayanad and Idukki. We suspect the extreme cold experienced in both districts is behind the issue." She explained that further study of weather data is needed before confirming the cause. The problems affect both local and high-yield paddy varieties. Scientists from the Cardamom Research Station in Pampadumpara will soon visit affected fields. Agriculture officials said if the crop loss is due to climate factors, financial help will be given to farmers.