Prevailing pre-monsoon rainfall, according to weather experts, is expected to make a positive impact on kharif crops awarding a bumper produce in the State with a rider that it does not come along with speeding winds and hailstorm. Jharkhand has received a positive change of weather this season due to local reasons and active western disturbances originating from the Mediterranean Sea which gradually travel across the middle-east from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter the Indian sub-continent.
“Pre-monsoon rainfall is supposed to be a boon for kharif crops as the farmers get extra time before monsoon for tilling their fields due to frequent rainfall occurring from time to time in the State,” said Weather scientist and agriculture expert at Birsa Agriculture University in Ranchi, A Wadood. Besides, people of Jharkhand will also not have to bear extreme temperature as it is not going to be very hot this summer, he added.
Although less than the normal rainfall is expected this year, it is not a matter of concern for the State farmers. “Since this is a la-lina year, only 93 per cent of the total rainfall received will be received by the State during this monsoon which is not at all a cause of concern for Jharkhand,” Wadood said. Jharkhand, according to Wadood, receives 1300-1400 mm of rainfall every year, which is much more than the national average of 980 mm.
Counting on the benefits of pre-monsoon rain, Wadood said that it has double bonanza for the farmers as they can prepare their farms before monsoon by tilling it in advance with an additional benefits that pests get killed due to extreme sun-light which is gradually followed by the rainfall. Secondly, they can sow seeds in their fields immediately the monsoon arrives and get their crops on time, said the weather expert.
The weather scientist further said that having all said and done the best part of this is that the weather glory of the State has returned due to external and internal factors of weather change, for Jharkhand was known for in the past. “In this transition phase of changing weather conditions, which has become a cause of concern for the world community, we have succeeded in regaining the lost weather glory of the State,” said Wadood.
Meanwhile, the department of disaster management has started making preparations for any adversity during the monsoon and has sought reports from the districts in this regard on the basis of the observations and findings made during the last year. “The process of formulating final strategy for preventive measures before the monsoon and actionable measures during the monsoon is on seeking reports from districts,” said State Project Officer (Disaster Management) Colonel SK Srivastava.
Pilot strategy, however, is still going on but the final action will be taken only after May 15 on the basis of the reports received from the districts, which is to reach us latest by May 8, added Srivastava. Srivastava, however, also asserted that Jharkhand, due to the changing weather conditions is expected to receive 93 per cent of the total rain which is received by the State on an average basis. Still they are prepared for any contingency.