Even though the meteorological department predicts better rainfall in the next 2-3 days, agricultural experts in the State are hugely concerned over the scanty rainfall in the State as the situation may get worsened for farmers if it does not get recovered soon. So far, Jharkhand has received scanty rainfall which is 13 per cent deficient from the normal condition.
“We can see low pressure on Odisha coast which is likely to get intensified causing low depression leading to heavy rainfall in some isolated parts of the State in the next 2-3 days,” said Weather Forecast Office RK Mahto.
Although monsoon is likely to recover and get active from Tuesday, causing widespread rainfall across the State, actual status could be known only after thorough monitoring by Tuesday, added Mahto.
The agricultural experts however, are concerned over the rain deficit recorded so far in the State and if it does not get recovered in the next few days, farmers will have to incur heavy losses.
“This is the right time for transplantation, if the saplings are not planted followed by heavy rainfall, it may cause heavy losses to farmers as it will start decaying,” said Weather Scientist of Birsa Agricultural University A Wadood.
According to Wadood, conditions are favorable till Monday having good soil moisture and clear sky as heavy rainfall may prevent farmers going to their fields. “The crops desperately need more rainfall from now onwards which is being expected from tomorrow,” added Wadood.
Wadood added, “From July 1 till date conditions were quite favorable for sowing in the lowlands but for medium and upland farmers we are discouraging paddy and encouraging short duration crops like makka and kulthy.”
Agriculture department also asserted that if the monsoon does not get active in the next 3-4 days, the situation may be difficult for the farmers as the crops will become mature which needs to be transplanted soon.
“As we already had delayed monsoon in the state the situation continued to be unpredictable until we do not receive heavy rain soon so that the saplings gets transplanted in time,” said Agricultural Director KP Sahu.
Normal rainfall of 55.7 mm was recorded in the month of May while 101.2 mm of rainfall was recorded in Jharkhand which was 56 per cent less than the normal figure. In the first week of July on the other hand, there had been 135.6 mm rainfall which was considerably high and widespread.
According to local farmers the rains till date were not enough for sowing of paddy saplings and if the weather continues like this and rain gods do not have mercy on them the cultivation process will be stopped resulting in a huge loss to them.