:Monsoon played truant this year with the district recording deficit rainfall every alternate month.
According to Deputy Project Director ATMA Yogendra Nath Singh it was 30 per cent deficit in June, which remained the same in July. Rains were normal in August but in September the deficit went up 23 per cent of the 20 of the 20 blocks in the district.
Despite the several deficit farmers went ahead with showing. The farmers of the district sowed 80 per cent paddy crops, 44 per cent maize, oil seeds 90 per cent, pulses in only 54. 6 per cent area despite rain deficit of about 35 per cent. Standing paddy crop in 47746 hectares, maize crop in 18416 hectares, oil seed crop in 90.9 hectares, pulses seed crop in 24458 hectares cultivated by about 4 lakh farmers was affected, Deputy Director added.