Bolangir: Most areas of this district are reeling under a drought-like situation owing to very scant rainfall in June, July and August.
Till August 22, the district has received 78 per cent less rain than normal and the situation may worsen if immediate steps are not taken to check the water scarcity problem.
According to reports, 29.1 per cent rainfall was recorded in the district in June while it was only 22.2 per cent of the normal in July.
Following an assessment of the situation, the Agriculture department said that the district has received 78 per cent less rainfall than the normal affecting paddy farming severely.
Farmers have abandoned all hopes for a good paddy harvest this Kharif season. Thousands of hectares of farmlands have cracked open due to aridity while paddy saplings meant for transplantation have wilted.
Post seeding-sowing activities have remained a non-starter. Such a sorry state of affairs in the farm sector was visible in 14 blocks of the district, reports said.
Farmers of Bidighat under Sadar block said that drought has already made its footfall in most areas.
Describing the situation, Bishnu Bisi, a farmer from Janakpur, said, “For want of rainfall, paddy transplantation could not be done this year. Saplings have started wilting and turned yellow. Seventy days have passed since seeds were sown. There is no chance of the survival of saplings even it rains now. Paddy farming has been badly affected this year.”
Shibankar Dharua, a farmer from Janakpur, said, “I have raised saplings in 12 acres for transplantation. However, transplantation could not be carried out in farmlands owing to severe aridity.”
There is no water in the dams and canals while no alternative exists in the area to channelise water to the farmlands, he added. District Agriculture Officer Baikuntha Charan Sahu said that Bolangir has received deficient rain.
“The government is now planning for alternative crops to save the farmers. But in upland areas, there is no alternative crop. Cash crops like cotton can only be grown in certain lands. Even deciding on the choice of land will be a problem.”
PNN
