Agricultural activity in Jharkhand has picked up as the State witnessed good amount of rainfall in last couple of days that has made conditions conducive for kharif crops.
Predictions for next few-days projects even better conditions for farming in the State. According to department of Agriculture coverage of paddy is 45 per cent, maze 71 per cent and pulses 50 per cent in the State in last fortnight which is likely to improve further with predictions of increased monsoon activity over Jharkhand.
“The situation has definitely improved in last couple of days. And we have witnessed an improvement in agricultural activities in entire Jharkhand,” asserted Director Agriculture KP Sahu.
In last few days Jharkhand has experienced from 70mm to 10mm of rain in different pockets.Notwithstanding delayed monsoon the meteorological department declared that Jharkhand is only 13 per cent short of the normal rainfall and that even the dry zones are likely to get a boost in agricultural activities because of sufficient rain likely due to conditions developing over Jharkhand.
“In the next 24-hours a depression zone is likely to buildup over Jharkhand and a rainfall of 50mm to 100mm is likely in the State due to this development. We can expect a better condition for agriculture because of this,” maintained Forecast Officer at Indian Meteorological Department Ranchi, U Shrivastava. The torrential rain that Jharkhand is likely to witness in August will help in increasing coverage of paddy upto 70 per cent, maze upto 90 per cent, pulses upto 70 per cent and oil seeds upto 50 per cent.
“late rainfall will be good for standing crops as well as it will help in increasing crop coverage because sowing activity in Jharkhand continues till August 15,” said Agricultural Scientist at BAU, A Wadood. Notwithstanding rosy predictions about half of Jharkhand has fallen under dry zone with just about 10mm of rain since the onset of monsoon in the State.
Four districts of Jharkhand have so far been badly affected due to less rainfall hence the agriculture activity is likely to be hampered to a great extent compared to rain sufficient zones in the State. While Simdega is deficient by 43 per cent, Ranchi and lohardaga have witnessed 41 per cent less than normal rainfall whereas Garhwa is short of 60 per cent since the last figure of rainfall was reported.