JEYPORE: After an anxious wait of nearly four months marked by scorching temperatures and deficient rainfall, monsoon showers finally swept across Koraput district on Tuesday, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of farmers and reviving hopes for the ongoing kharif cultivation season.
Widespread rainfall was reported from the plains of Jeypore, Kotpad, Kundra, Borigumma and Boipariguda blocks, while the hilly and tribal-dominated regions of Nandapur, Pottangi, Semiliguda, Laxmipur, Dasmantpur and Lamtaput also received moderate to heavy showers.
Agriculture experts said the onset of monsoon has been delayed by nearly 25 days this year. Normally, agricultural operations for kharif crops commence around May 20 in the district. However, the prolonged dry spell stalled sowing activities, leaving farmers increasingly worried about crop prospects.
They said timely rainfall during June is crucial for nursery raising, transplantation of paddy and sowing of other rain-fed crops. Any further delay in monsoon could have adversely impacted the agricultural calendar and crop productivity.
Koraput has a cultivable area of over 2 lakh hectares, of which nearly 1.6 lakh hectares are brought under kharif cultivation every year. Paddy remains the principal crop, covering around one lakh hectares, while farmers also cultivate maize, millets, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables during the season.
The district administration has already completed kharif preparedness measures, including seed distribution, fertiliser stocking and awareness programmes for farmers. Agriculture officials said adequate quantities of certified paddy, maize and millet seeds have been made available through primary agricultural cooperative societies and other authorised outlets.
Chief district agriculture officer Bhabani Sankar Mohapatra said the monsoon showers have covered most parts of the district, particularly the tribal pockets where agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood.
“The rainfall has spread across the district and provided the moisture required for field preparation and sowing operations. If the monsoon remains active over the next few weeks, kharif cultivation will gather momentum and the initial delay can be compensated,” he said.