SAMBALPUR:After a prolonged dry spell, incessant rain for the last two days led the agricultural activities to gain momentum in Sambalpur district. The rain has brought cheer among the farmers who were desperately waiting for the showers to kick off the farming work.
According to reports, the district received 102.82 mm rainfall that started on Wednesday night. From July 1 to 8, rainfall was scattered with 77.58 mm recorded slowing down farming activities during the current kharif season.
Local Met sources said, the district received 180.4 mm of rainfall between July 1 and 10 against the normal rainfall of 429.5 mm in the month.
Out of nine blocks in the district, Kuchinda received the maximum of 287.90 mm between July 1 and 10 while Rairakhol registered minimum of 111 mm. Though the district received 253.49 mm rainfall against the normal of 221 mm in June, it was not well distributed.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has set a target to cultivate paddy of high yield, hybrid and local varieties in 1,04,800 hectares of land to produce 3,51,670 tonnes during the kharif season.
The department has also set a target to achieve paddy yield of 33.34 quintal per hectare against the achievement of 28.98 quintal per hectare during the last kharif season.
Deputy Director, Agriculture, Sambalpur, Ashok Mohanty said quantity of rainfall registered in July is important and hoped that it would be normal. The showers in the last two days would certainly help the farmers prepare their fields.