Setting aside the initial scare of crop loss due to deficient rainfall, farmers of Sundargarh district have started cultivation following good monsoon showers in August. After a deficit in June and July, the district has received 474.49 mm against the normal of 393.9 mm till Wednesday.
Farmer and BJP’s Krishak Morcha president Daleswar Majhi observed that the situation has dramatically turned favourable.
Sources said in August only Lefripara block at 312 mm and Koida at 282 mm received normal rainfall, while the remaining 15 blocks recorded an excess between 55 mm and 109 mm.
The Lathikata block recorded the highest 585 mm rainfall followed by Sundargarh at 548 mm, Gurundia at 508 mm and Kuanrmunda at 502. The Hemgir, Tangarpali, Subdega, Balishankara, Bargaon, Kutra, Rajgangpur, Nuagaon, Bisra, Bonai and Lahunipara blocks received between 376 mm and 486 mm.
The turnaround in situation has promoted farmers to go full swing with cultivation activities. The district has 2.14 hectares (ha) under paddy cultivation.
However, excess rainfall leading to prolonged water-logging in low-lying areas of 99,000 ha bearing non-paddy crops could be a cause of worry.
Deputy Director for Agriculture (DDA) Narendra Behera said the situation is favourable, adding that paddy is being grown by inter-cultural operations under paddy broadcasting method in around 60 per cent areas of the district. He clarified that there is no threat to paddy crops due to excess rainfall.