The brief spells of rain for two days in last one week in nine out of 14 blocks of Ranchi district has given relief from the dry spell had also raised the hopes of the farmers as they have begun the tilling and sowing activities for the cultivation of Rabi crops. But the Ranchi Meteorology Department officials had attributed that the rainfall is not sufficient for agriculture activities, both cotton and paddy crops.
According to the Ranchi Met office, the state capital has received only 105 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 240.0mm in the month of July bringing down the deficit to only six per cent.
The excess of monsoon trough after passing through Ganganagar, Delhi, Gwalior and creating center of depression (Chhattisgarh, Jharsuguda and Digha) has entered the northeast ways leading to the erratic rainfall. The trough has moved away from the state but due to development of local clouds, some regions of Jharkhand are expected to experience cloudy weather followed with thunder shower and lighting,” said Forecaster of Ranchi Meteorology Department RK Mahto.
In the ongoing Kharif season, the Agriculture Department has marked the target of paddy cultivation in the district in around 1, 90,000 hectares of the land. But the irregular rainfall in the state has made the plan defunct.
Notably, the rain in Kanke, Ratu, Chanho, Mandar, lapung, Burmu, Bero, Namkum and Silli blocks had softened the hard dry farm land allowing the farmers to commence the tilling activities. Besides, in some areas where famers have access to irrigation facility had onset the seeds sowing activities. Incidentally, the water level in these areas has dropped to the level of 629 meter against the dead level 625 meter.
Secretary of Agriculture and Sugarcane Development Department Nitin Madan Kulkarni said, “District’s nine blocks have received an average rainfall of 40 mm in past few days is like a morale booster for the farmers who have started the sowing activities but it is not of much help. The farming activities in these nine blocks have been kicked off. While, the remaining five blocks Ormanjhi, Angara, Khelari, nagri and itki is yet to start the activities.”
Nevertheless, attributing to the met department predictions which did not show any sign major improvement in the monsoon in the near future, the Agriculture department is mulling over contingency plans for both cotton and paddy crops.“Necessary assistance will be provided to the farmers to overcome with this tough scenario. Discussion over the same is in process,” added Kulkarni.
However, HOD of Agro- met Department at Birsa Agriculture University Dr A Wadood has asked the farmers to continue the farming work as there are chances of formation of circulation in Bay of Bengal in the near future.“There are chances of good spell of rain in state capital and its adjoining areas as there are indication of development of strong circulation in Bay of Bengal by next month,”added Wadood.