Good rainfall boosts farm activities in Odisha's Sambalpur

SAMBALPUR: With Sambalpur district receiving good rainfall, agricultural activities are going on smoothly across the district. The farm activities for paddy cultivation had taken off in right earnest with the district receiving about 25 per cent more rainfall than normal in June this year.

As per reports, the district has received 198.27 mm rainfall till July 16 against the normal rainfall of 429.5 mm in July.Of the nine blocks in the district, Kuchinda block received the highest rainfall of 291 mm while Rengali block registered the lowest at 148.20 mm till July 16.

Similarly, Maneswar block recorded 250.10 mm rainfall, Naktideul received 239 mm, Jujumura   203.20 mm, Jamankira 176 mm, Dhankauda 167.90 mm, Rairakhol block 160.10 mm and Bamra 148.90 mm rainfall till July 16. The district had received 276.44 mm rainfall in June against normal rainfall of 221 mm.

The agricultural activities for paddy cultivation are on the right track in the district and farmers are busy with transplantation of paddy seedlings and intercultural operation on their farm land.The Agriculture department has set a target to cultivate paddy over 1,06,800 hectares of land with a production target of 3,58,950 tonnes during the current kharif season.Broadcasting of seeds has been targeted to cover 42,948 hectares while transplantation of paddy saplings has been targeted over the rest 63,852 hectares.

However, the target for broadcasting has been achieved. Broadcasting has already been completed on 43,079 hectares while intercultural operation has been completed on 8,073 hectares till July 14 against a target of 43,079 hectares. The fresh target for transplantation of paddy seedlings is 63,721 hectares.

Transplantation has already been undertaken on 3,872 hectares till July 14. Deputy Director of Agriculture, Sambalpur, Pradosh Kumar Samal said the district has received normal rainfall till date. Agricultural activities for paddy cultivation, including transplantation and intercultural operation, are going on smoothly, he added.