While incessant rains flooded many areas in the State, at least two blocks in the backward district of Nuapada are facing drought-like situation.
Although it rained, the showers are not well dispersed and the district received 99.34 mm against the normal rainfall of 210.3 mm in June and 292.74 mm against 347.1 mm in July. Till August 21, the district had received only 195.29-mm rain against the normal 327.8 mm.
It is feared that the disparity in the rainfall may have a bearing on the migration pattern with Boden and Komna blocks among the worst affected.
In June, Boden block received a meagre 17-mm rainfall while it recorded 51.60 mm in July and till August 21, the block had received only 45.50-mm rainfall. The very fact the district experienced 24 and 17 dry days in July and August respectively presents a grim picture.
Similarly in Komna block, the rainfall registered in June was 69 mm, while it was 401 mm in July and 203 mm till August 21.
Left with little hope of good yield, the marginal farmers in the block are already readying to leave for alien land in search of livelihood options.
While the cultivation process never really took off and the seeds sown were victim of sprouting blight. In Komna, weeds have taken over the paddy saplings with livestock grazing on them.
In Boden block, the worst-hit gram panchayats include Nagapada, Bhainsadani, Karlakat and Khaira while similar fate greets farmers of Sialati, Darplipada, Jadamunda, Michapali, Sunabeda, Soseng, Jhagrahi, Rajana and Agren gram panchayats in Komna block.
Farmer Dasrath Majhi said they had returned home from brick kilns hoping for
a good rain and crop. Having exhausted all resources,
they are now waiting for labour contractors to visit them.