With agriculture being mainstay of Uttarakhand’s economy, excessive rain may not only spoil the beleaguered farmers’ livelihood prospects but also come as a major setback for the Hill State’s dwindling economic growth which has only crippled following the natural catastrophe.
Availability of water is a good indication to boost State’s hitherto neglected agriculture sector, but incessant rains that has even denied thousands of people who have been stranded in difficult geographical terrain of the Hill State for several days, to have access even to their basic needs, may prove to be fatal for the growth of the Kharif crops like paddy and sugarcane which are the two main Kharif crops of Uttarakhand.
It is worth mention here that the Kharif crop season is presently going through a very delicate phase with the farmers being engaged in paddy plantation not only in the plains but also hill areas of the Himalayan State.
Thus, incessant rain which continues even hampering the relief operations in several disaster-affected areas as has been witnessed for long, won’t be beneficial for the paddy plantation and growth of other Kharif crops, including sugarcane at all.
The matter of fact is that excessive rain, if it rains incessantly, can only displace the paddy plants from the field, said Dr J Kumar, Dean, College of Agriculture, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar, while talking to The Pioneer in an exclusive interview.
“More so, excessive water may also drain out the fertilisers that the farmers use in their field for better growth. That is why we are of the view that if it rains incessantly for a longer period, it won’t be beneficial for farmers at any cost,” the senior scientist and Dean of the GBPUAT further said.
“Excessive rainwater may equally be harmful for crops like paddy in hill areas as the paddy plantation is also going in full swing in hilly region of the State. That is why we can advise the farmers to ensure there is no excess water in their paddy filed as it can not only displace the paddy plants but also drain out the fertilisers used by the farmers,” Kumar suggested.
Since this is also a very crucial time for proper growth of many other crops like the sugarcane crop, therefore, the scientists have also advised the farmers engaged in farming of sugarcane crop to maintain water level in their sugarcane field in proper way as excessive water may drain the fertilisers and spoil the grow of the plants.
But keeping in view present weather conditions which have only proved to be unpredictable for long, the beleaguered farmers who are quite worried about their crops here are of the view that as natural disaster is unpreventable only whether God now can save us from this disaster.
It is worth mention here that agriculture sector plays a significant role in State economy not only because it still serves as livelihood options for a majority of people living in both plains and hills of Uttarakhand but also comes in handy for promoting the animal husbandry sector.