Chandbali: With the prediction of monsoon hitting the state early going awry, farmers in Chandbali block of Bhadrak district are worried about the possibility of agricultural activities getting delayed.
Though the area recorded nine rain days in May with 150 mm rainfall, the rain that has fallen so far in June is inadequate to make the ground wet for starting the initial agriculture work.
The agriculture department has set a target of paddy cultivation in 33,070 hectares in the area during the current kharif season. Of it, indigenous paddy will be raised in 31,270 hectares.
Farmers said that pre-monsoon showers play a pivotal role in farm operations. Initially, low pressure had brightened the prospects of good rain, but the hopes vanished after reports came in that the monsoon has weakened. It is feared that if rains play truant during the crucial time, seeds sown in the farmland will be badly affected.
Now, weather in most areas here has been dry with mercury hovering above 40°C. Expecting early rains, farmers have already sown seeds in thousands of hectares in Uchukuda, Mato, Nalkunda, Madhapur, Bhatapada, Mahulia, Mausudha, Baligan and Badaostia panchayats.
With farmlands still dry, they fear that sprouting of seeds will be severely hit if rains are further delayed. In fact, in the last few years, low pressure-induced rains have been more helpful to the farming than those of the monsoon.
PNN
