Rupsa: Scant rainfall due to a weak monsoon has taken a heavy toll on agriculture activities in Basta block of Balasore district, leaving thousands of farmers frustrated.
According to a report, over 17,000 hectares of land have been left uncultivated due to insufficient rain with the farming community apprehending a drought-like situation emerging this year.
Though it is already 11 days into the month of July, farmlands are lying dry. Given the present scenario, farmers are not hopeful of paddy production in 17,209 hectares in the block.
Scores of panchayats including Gadsapada, Routpada, Mathani, Baharda, Tadda, Dudhahansa, Chakuri and Painsakuli under the block recorded insufficient rainfall in June and till now in July. What is alarming is that germinated paddy has been blighted in acres of sown land due to dearth of rainfall.
Besides, the process of paddy sapling grooming was also severely affected due to scant rain, lamented farmers.
According to information available from the office of the assistant agriculture officer, 20,169 hectares of land in 31 panchayats in the block are cultivable.
Of them, 12,891 hectares of land are meant for vegetable, chilli, turmeric, ginger and jute farming. Farmer usually sow paddy in 1,500 hectares and 17,439 hectares are meant for paddy transplantation.
Sadly, paddy has been sown in only 650 hectares of land, while no transplantation work has been carried out till date, it was learnt.
“This year, the region is for sure going to be affected by drought. Till date, many farmers have not even tiled their land. The germinated paddy plants in several acres of land have wilted for want of rain,” rued Abhimanyu Chanda, a farmer of Gadapada panchayat.
Narrating the current situation, farmer Sheikh Madia said, “We feel the hot summer sun even in the month of July. Paddy farming this year will go down the drain if it fails to rain adequately in 10 days.”
Farmer Niranajan Jena of Tadda panchayat echoed similar concerns.
“If it doesn’t rain soon, paddy cultivation will definitely get affected. The economic backbone of farmers will break down,” Jena said.
Assistant agriculture officer Sanjay Kumar Rout said Basta block has recorded only 209 mm rain against required 390 mm till date. “As there is possibility of drought, farmers who have not taken government loans should enroll themselves as beneficiaries under crop insurance scheme by July 31 so that they are not deprived of government assistance. If drought occurs, farmers have chances of cultivating green gram, black gram and oil seeds to recoup the loss,” Rout suggested. PNN
