Agricultural operation for Kharif paddy cultivation in Bolangir district has been held up due to inadequate rainfall this year, once again raising concern among the farmers about the fate of paddy cultivation. It also reminds of the harrowing experience of last year’s drought.
In the month of June, Bolangir received 81.3mm rainfall which was around 60 per cent less than the normal monsoon rainfall of 202mm in June.
As a result, ponds which dried up in summer continue to remain dry and their beds are visible even today. Expecting a normal rainfall this year, the farmers had taken up paddy cultivation. Agricultural office sources revealed that paddy cultivation was targeted to take up in 1,85,000 hectares this year. Till today, paddy cultivation has been taken up in 59.4 per cent of area.
And after the deficit rainfall in June, July appeared to be no better as the district has also received a 35 per cent rainfall this month. To carry out the crucial agriculture operations of transplanting and beushoning, it requires a strong rainfall and standing water in the paddy field, which is, however, absent.
But the paucity rainfall is of no use for paddy cultivation. In the absence of sufficient standing water in the field, agriculture operations cannot be taken.
Amidst all this, the paddy seedlings raised in nursery bed are getting old. Paddy seedlings should be planted in the field after 21 days. The older they are, the less will be their capacity of production.
Unless there is a heavy rainfall within seven days, farmers of Bolangir are once again heading for a bitter time again, said sources.
All eyes are on the meteorology predictions that there would be heavy rainfall on August 2 next. Will there be heavy rainIJ Will the agricultural operations be resumed normallyIJ These are the questions now being raised and putting the farmers in anxiety.