Bargarh: Farmers in many parts of this district are a worried lot with hectares of paddy crops having withered due to deficient rainfall.
According to a report of the district agriculture office, crops across 21, 680 hectares in the district have been affected by insufficient rainfall. A drought like situation looms large what with cracked fields and withered crops, the report said.
Barring June, there has been no satisfactory rain in the district till date. More than half of June received sufficient rain at 260.57 mm as against a normal 205.6 mm.
From July until now, rainfall has been far less. July witnessed rainfall for 26 days and the average rainfall was 263 mm which is 66.2 per cent of the normal rainfall. Similarly, normal rainfall in August is 374.4mm. It rained 23 days in August that added up to 244.83mm. During the current month, the region has not received even half the normal rainfall. The current month has received 105.10 mm that works out to 47.2 per cent of the normal rainfall.
Barring Attabira and Bheden, 21, 680 hectares of crops in the remaining 10 blocks have been damaged due to scanty rainfall. With the highest damage of 3,651 hectares, Bhatli tops the list, while it is 1,260 hectares in Paikamal, 1,630 hectares in Sohela, 3,642 hectares in Bijepur, 987 hectares in Gaisilet, 460 hectares in Jharbandha, 715 hectares in Bargarh, 3,527 hectares in Barpali, 2,985 hectares in Ambabhona and 2,823 hectares in Padmapur.
Farmers cannot report any complaint on the basis of the agriculture department’s report as this is not a final report. A committee comprising officials of the revenue department, agriculture department, sarpanchs, ward members and farmers would again prepare a report after crop cutting.
Farmers’ complaints on the basis of the second report would be taken into consideration, said Naba Kishore Dash, deputy director of agriculture, Bargarh.
Laxman Pradhan, a farmer leader, alleged that the assessment of crop damage is not done properly because of which farmers do not get input subsidy or compensation. This year the administration should carry out a proper assessment. If it is not done in time, farmers would hit the street, he added.
