The State has received a mere 57.7 mm rainfall between June 1 and June 23 this year as against the long-term average (lTA) of 166 mm for this period. This works out to be a deficit rainfall of 66.3 per cent, which meteorologists categorise as scanty.
According to a release by Dr Surendra Nath Pasupalak, Professor of Agro-Meteorology at the Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, as many as 20 of the State’s 30 districts have received a deficit rainfall ranging from 61.9 to 85 per cent during June 1 to 23 this year.
With a deficit rainfall of 19.8 per cent, Nabarangpur is the only district which can be said to have received near normal rain fall.
With a rain deficit of 43 to 58.3 per cent, nine districts, Baleswar, Baragarh, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nuapadaand Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar. have registered a severe rainfall deficit.
Rest 20 districts have registered less rainfall ranging from 61.9 to 85 per cent, the release informed.
Similarly, Pasupalak observed that crop coverage stood at 50 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of the last year.
He said the already sown crops in medium and upland areas might not sprout, leading to happening of a Gaja Marudi as it is called in Odia.
He has advised against sowing of paddy seeds in the upland and medium land areas under the present circumstances. He has suggested that the Government keep ready short-duration paddy varieties in large quantities in view of the elusive and erratic monsoon this year.
He said even in irrigated areas the farmers must remember that the dams and reservoirs do not have sufficient water at the moment for discharge into canals.