Rains pick up but not paddy sowing
FARMING CRISIS Jharkhand has achieved 15.60% of paddy-sowing target; farmers blame late monsoon, delay in seed distribution
RANCHI: Unequal rains are posing uncertainty over crops in Jharkhand, where 84% arable land meant for paddy cultivation is lying fallow even amid improving monsoon that has sown optimism among agriculture officials.
Farmers, though, are worried, with a spectre of early drought looming large in five districts. Paddy is yet to be sown in Garhwa, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Jamtara and Pakur, according to the government’s kharif coverage figure on Thursday.
Till Friday, the state achieved merely 15.60% of its total paddy-sowing target. As for pulses and oilseeds, the percentage is slightly better: 28.91% and 38.07% respectively. Only maize-sowing is encouraging—at 64.48%.
Kharif crops are ideally sown in July. The drought-like situation for the last few years prompted Jharkhand farmers to extend the date till August 15. Jharkhand’s kharif-crop area measures 27.24 lakh hectares. Of this, paddy targets to occupy 17.67 lakh hectares, pulses 5.91 lakh hectares, maize 3.10 lakh hectares and oilseeds 56, 210 hectares.
Rain has strengthened in the recent days, but farmers think it is insufficient. “Monsoons arrived late this time. There was delay in seed distribution, too,” notes Meenu Mahto, a farmer in Barkagaon near Hazaribag.
Jharkhand faced 41% deficit rainfall last month, while the July rains have been “normal”. The deficit is down to 16% as of Friday, weather officials said.
So far this year, the state received 353mm rainfall against the normal 426.3mm. Paradoxically, of the five districts where sowing is yet to start, Garhwa and Jamtara recorded surplus rain. Pakur, Ramgarh and Hazaribagh faced deficits of 38%, 32% and 13% respectively till date. Excluding Chatra, which is facing 46% shortfall, rainfall deficit has come down to below 40 in the other districts.
Ranchi Meteorological Centre predicts normal rainfall this month when two cyclonic systems are offering “good” rainfall in south and northeast Jharkhand. “The rainfall in August could also be normal,” says forecasting officer DG Hedau. A deviation of 19% rainfall is “normal”.
The agriculture department sees no reason to panic. “We are hoping sowing situation will improve in one or two weeks, as July rainfall has been positive,” according to state agriculture director Jatashankar Choudhary.
The June rain deficit impacted nursery-raising. “We have intensified the transplantation of paddy saplings. If the current rainfall continues, Jharkhand won’t face problem,” he adds.