Press Trust of India
Koraput, August 9: Farmers in this tribal-dominated district are a worried lot as a drought-like situation looms over the region due to scanty rainfall in July and in the first week of August.
“The district has received only 32 per cent rainfall in July and 1.25 per cent in the first week of August. If there is no immediate rain in
the next few days, the situation may turn alarming,” deputy director of agriculture (Jeypore), Kalidas Biswas said.
Officials said while rainfall in July was expected to be 375.6 mm the district received only 122.91 mm rainfall. Similarly, for August the district is expected to receive 393.06 mm rainfall.
“We have targeted to cover 99,267 hectare with paddy this kharif season. But till now we have managed to cover only 62,991 hectare and the rest area is lying vacant with no
or scanty rainfall. Also, 25 per cent of the total area covered is in virtually dry situation for less rainfall,” Biswas said.
According to the officer, while paddy cultivation in Jeypore, Borigumma and Kotpad blocks covered under Upper Kolab Irrigation Project is manageable, farmers in non-irrigated blocks like Narayanpatna, Bandhugaon, Nandapur, Pottangi, Semiliguda and Dasmantpur were the worst sufferers.
“The present situation is not very encouraging. The area is witnessing long dry spells and it is already a drought-like situation here,” said Gopi Hantal of Dalaiput under Koraput block.
The agriculture department has prepared a contingency plan for the farmers in case there is no increase in rainfall in the district, officials said.
“Non-paddy crops will be encouraged in case there is no improvement in present rainfall situation in the district. Short duration paddy, green and black gram seeds are in stock and those will be supplied to the farmers,” they said.
However, cultivation of non-paddy crops in the kharif season was also not encouraging owing to the scanty rainfall. Official figure shows out of 1,96,733 hectare targeted to be covered under non-paddy crops in the district only 69,091 hectare has been achieved.