Despite the recommendation of a special committee of the State Assembly to declare drought in Palamu and Garhwa districts, the farmers are worried and concerned without any relief. The farmers, whose fields are parched, are having sleepless nights as they see no chance of revival of the crops already damaged due to lack of water, even if some respite comes from the heat in the next few days.
According to agriculture and rainfall data available at the Agriculture Department, Garhwa district, in June the district received 69 per cent less rainfall while in July district received 84 per cent and in August 48 per cent less rain fall.
Due to insufficient rain paddy crops covered only 20.5 per cent land against its target. Paddy plants have been planted in 11.09 hectare land only against 54000 hectare land.
Growing of maize, pulse seeds and oil seeds are better in the district. Maize covered in 22,778 hectare land against target of 26,640 hectare while pulse seeds covered in 32,820 hectare land against its target of 37,987 hectare while oil seeds covered 4396 hectare land against its target of 4624 hectare.
According to Agriculture Department sources and farmers in the district and nearby areas, about 60 per cent to 80 per cent of the standing kharif crop has already perished due to lack of rainfall. As per reports pouring in from the neighbouring districts, crops of paddy and arhar have gone dry. At places, farmers have started uprooting the dried up stems of paddy which is mainly grown in the villages. According to sources, this district is a dry part of the State and has not been getting adequate irrigation water for the land. The crops in the area were mainly dependent on the monsoons as there is no other main source of irrigation here. “The Government should conduct a survey and declare the area as drought hit”, said a farmer.
Mahadev Mahto of a village in Ranka subdivision said as their crops had dried up no rainfall or water could revive the crops now. Even if there was adequate rainfall in the next one month, the farmers would have to uproot the present crop and resow which, he said, would be a herculean task.
It is not the first time that this district has been in the grip of drought-like conditions. According to farmers, the fields in the district had not got adequate rainfall for at least two seasons in the past five years.