With the rains arriving late in Jharkhand, the ongoing showers will continue to prove beneficial for the agricultural sector. Farmers are hoping for paddy coverage of nearly 80 per cent by about August 31.
“A new rain bearing system is again forming from August 30 which will prove to be quite good for the agriculture sector especially for the paddy fields as post transplantation also rain is quite essential. Paddy requires more rain as compared to pulses, maize and oil seeds. The southern districts have been receiving more rain which is good for the paddy fields. Although monsoon is delayed but still farmers can make use of the rain showers,” said SD Kotal, Director MET Centre Ranchi.
According to agro- meteorological scientist at Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), the crop coverage in the State as of on August 25 was recorded at paddy 64 percent, maize 79- 80 per cent, pulses 61 per cent, oil seeds 59 per cent and cereal at about 34- 35 per cent.
“The overall coverage in Jharkhand is about 64- 65 per cent. Farmers have still not lost all hope and are busy in transplantation and are hoping that by the August 31, the coverage of rice will be around nearly 80 percent. As far as paddy is concerned which is the most important crop in Jharkhand with a target of 18 lakh hectare of which only 64 per cent has been covered, it is being hoped that by August 31, the coverage will go up to 80 per cent,” said A Wadood, BAU scientist.
According to the Meteorological Centre Ranchi, there are chances of heavy rainfall in the southern districts where as the northern and central parts of the State will witness light to moderate rain in the next 24 hours.
“In Jharkhand, during the month of June, the rain deficit was 35 per cent, July was deficit by 40 per cent which has reduced to 26 per cent rain deficit as of on August 26. Apart from a few districts- Garwah, Godda, Khunti and Pakur which have more deficit, all the other districts in the State have come under 30 percent deficit.
Somehow farmers are trying to compensate the loss and the under coverage has to be brought upto at least 70- 80 percent,” Wadood added.