NUAPADA: Even as floods created havoc in several parts of the State, drought is all set to revisit Nuapada with the district receiving around half of normal rainfall in July. Deficit rainfall has affected agricultural activities leaving the farmers worried.
According to reports, rainfall was just above the normal in June. Till July 25, the district received 164.44 mm against the normal rainfall of 347.1 mm, a deficit of 52.62 per cent. Chances of a good rainfall are remote.
While Khariar block has received the lowest rainfall of 112.30 mm, Nuapada has registered a maximum of 200.40 mm followed by Komna with 188.60 mm, Sinapali with 161.00 mm and Boden with 159.90 mm rainfall. Usually, farmers sow seeds in June after monsoon showers and both transplantation and intercultural operations (beusan) are undertaken in July. However, with deficit rainfall, farm lands have gone dry.
Sources said the Agriculture Department had targeted to cultivate paddy over 81,500 hectares (ha) against which, cultivation has been started in 67,263 ha in Nuapada district.Similarly, non-paddy crops have been taken up in 42,619 ha against a target of 1,07,460 ha.Deputy Director of Agriculture (DDA) Umesh Chandra Das said Khariar block is worst affected. He added that as there is moisture in the soil, de-weeding is being undertaken even though transplantation has not been taken up yet.