With the slow advancement of South-West (SW) monsoon, the anticipation of a good rainfall for harvesting is slowly diluting every day. The State that used to record 228 mm of rainfall in the month of June, has just recorded 104.7 mm rainfall since the onset of the rainy season this year.
Agro-MET experts claimed that due to 50 per cent deficit in the rainfall, which must get covered with the onset of torrential rain, had already caused much delay in different farming activities causing harm to cultivators. Senior Agricultural Scientist at Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Dr. A Wadood said that due to Western Disturbances (WD), the advancement of SW monsoon has been severely influenced.
“The condition at present is not favourable for the farmers. Though sowing can be done by the farmers but transplantation work will be severely influenced as 50 per cent deficiency in rainfall has already been registered in the beginning of the monsoon season. Some major crops grow in the low-land area where stagnant water is required in sufficient amount,” added Dr. Wadood.
However, he said that though the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has claimed that monsoon is getting strengthened but it is uncertain that it will fulfill the deficiency completely this year. “The uneven distribution of rainfall at different places is another prime factor that will hamper cultivation activities despite the availability of good moisture content,” the Agro MET expert added.
Meanwhile, believing on monsoon prediction made by MET, Ranchi Centre, which has claimed that the State will receive widespread downpour covering almost all areas in the days to come, Agriculture department is yet to draft a contingency plan to assist the farmers. “So far, we are expecting that with heavy rainfall as predicted by the MET department, rainfall deficit will be covered up. As far as, preliminary arrangements are considered only after checking the rainfall record up till July 15, the decision will be taken up,” said, Director (Agriculture), Rajeev Kumar.
According to the data available with the MET, Ranchi Centre, in June 2017, the State has recorded approximately 104.7 mm rainfall which is approximately 46 per cent less than the normal rainfall. On the whole, around 164.6 mm rainfall in one month is considered to be above normal rainfall condition beneficial for the farming. In June 2016 as well, the State recorded had recorded 121.1 mm rainfall.
This year, in the month of June, only three districts of the State have received sufficient rainfall. Simdega, Ramgarh and lohardaga districts have received 3 per cent, 18 per cent and 68 per cent respectively more rainfall than the normal downpour while rest all the districts have registered low rainfall.