'Ideal condition for sowing paddy'

Terming the current sunny days an ideal condition for sowing seeds in the paddy fields, agricultural experts expect heavy rainfall in the next three-four days as a trough line was passing from the eastern part of Bihar to the northwest part of West Bengal which may bring in heavy rainfall in the State. Weathermen also claimed that low pressure has started originating from the Bay of Bengal which will take few more days to reach this region which will cause heavy rainfall.

“At this time, one does not require rainfall instead they need moisture in their fields so that they may get some time to make it suitable for transplanting the seedlings after they grow ,” said Agricultural Scientist at Birsa Agricultural University, A Wadood.

Although, sowing was at its full swing in the State for last four-five days, not more than 20 per cent of the total sowing so far has taken place in the State, said Wadood.“But if the present situation of no rain persists for another one week, it may create problem for the farmers, adversely affecting sowing in the State. Uneven distribution of rainfall is also one of the reasons for low sowing percentage in Jharkhand as some of the districts like Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Koderma Daltonganj and Koderma have received sufficient rainfall for sowing,” he added. 

State Meteorological Department also asserted that the State till date has received normal rainfall and current situation of rainy-sunny days are favorable for crops.“Paddy fields do not require heavy rain falls at this time otherwise the farmers will not be able to sow seeds in their fields,” said Director of State Meteorological Department BK Mandal. Although sowing has been started in most parts of the State, it was still to take off where there is heavy rainfall, Mandal added.

Mandal further said that normal rainfall was expected in the next 4-5 days but there were very less chances of wide-spread rainfall in the State. Adjoining areas of Odisha and West Bengal however, will be getting heavy rainfall, he said.Barring few pockets of Palamu and Kolhan which are expected to receive less rainfall, there will be normal rainfall across the State at this hour which is beneficial for paddy and corn farming.   

Weather forecasting officer also claimed that although there was no rainfall in Ranchi, other parts were receiving adequate rainfall and there was a marginal deficiency of only 10 per cent of the total rainfall in the State till date.“As we predicted a total rainfall of 247 mm at this stage in the State this season, there has already been 222.3 mm of rainfall which is just 10 per cent less than that what we had anticipated,” said Forecasting officer Dr. Upendra Srivastava.