BALANGIR: Lack of adequate rainfall has increased the woes of farmers in Balangir district. More than 80 per cent of farmers and 50 per cent land in the district are starting at severe drought due to erratic rains this year. Balangir received only 244 mm rainfall as against the average of 360 mm in July.
Agriculture office sources said the shortfall in rain has affected farm operations in 60 gram panchayats of Muribahal, Bongomunda as well as parts of Saintala and Agalpur blocks. The situation is also alarming in Belpara, Tureikela, Titilagarh and Khaprakhol blocks.
By this time, crucial agricultural operations like transplanting and beushoning should have been over. However, that is not the case because of scanty rains.
While only 111 mm of rainfall was recorded in Muribahal, Bongomunda has received 147 mm rain, Saintala 170 mm and Titilagarh 180 mm rains. The deficit rainfall has affected farm activities in these areas.
BJP Kisan Morcha president of the State Sivaji Mohanty said, “I visited some parts of Tureikela and Belpara blocks on August 10 and found kharif paddy fields lying uncultivated due to scanty rainfall. To make matters worse, the monsoon is on its last leg. This apart, implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana in the district is zero.”
Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Sridhar Das said if Balangir receives rain this week, the situation will improve. “This year, we had planned to take up paddy cultivation in 1, 85, 000 hectares (ha) and so far, 1,40,000 ha have been covered,’’ Das said and added that if there is no rainfall in seven days, the situation may worsen.
He admitted that less than normal rainfall has been recorded in Muribahal, Tureikela, Bongomunda, Kantabanji, Titilagarh, parts of Agalpur and Loisingha blocks while farming activities have been badly affected.
As per reports, transplantation of old saplings and beushoning operation are underway in some areas after sporadic rainfall in these places. These activities have been delayed due to less rainfall. Seedlings in nursery bed have become older and in many areas, stunted growth has been reported. Though paddy crop was at seedling to tillering stage, cows are grazing in fields of these areas now. Paddy of both high and low lands are facing drought, the sources added.