The spectre of drought in Balangir district looms large further as inadequate rainfall has halted the crucial agricultural operations like transplanting and beushining operations of paddy crop and the paddy seedlings in the fields are getting older, much to the worry of farmers.
In the month of August, only 53 mm rainfall has been received. And there has been no rainfall in the district since July 24.
The prolonged dry spell has halted the crucial agricultural operations. It would be pertinent to mention here that in June the district received 52 per cent less rainfall and in July it received 7 per cent less than the normal rainfall.
As a result, out of the total 14blocks in the district, already nine blocks have either received deficit rainfall or severe deficit rainfall. The blocks which had received severe deficit rainfall include Bongomunda, Belpada, Muribahal and loisingha and the ones which received deficit rainfall are Balangir, Puintal, Agalpur,Khaprakhol and Tureikela blocks.
According to the Agriculture office sources, out of 1, 90,000 hectares, paddy cultivation has been taken up in 1, 42,000 hectares leaving 48,000 hectares either fallow or agricultural operations have not been taken up there so far.
“We expect that there would be good rain in the coming days and crop situation would improve,” said an agriculture official here.