August 10, 2015

10/08/2015: Insufficient rainfall in Koraput poses threat to agriculture


The district has received only 32 percent rainfall in July and 1.25 percent in the first week of August.

Photo courtesy of thestatesman.com
Farmers form Koraput, Odisha  are worried about the scanty rainfall that they have been receiving, and the drought-like situation that is looming over the region as a consequence.

"The district has received only 32 percent rainfall in July and 1.25 per cent in the first week of August. If there is no immediate rain in next few days the situation may turn alarming," Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kalidas Biswas said.

Officials said while the rainfall in July was expected to be 375.6 millimetres the district received only 122.91 millimeters 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 are lying vacant with no or scanty rainfall. Also, 25 per cent of the total area covered are in virtually dry situation for less rainfall," Biswas said.

The officer has said that while paddy cultivation in Jeypore, Borigumma and Kotpad blocks covered under Upper Kolab Irrigation Project are amnageable, farmersin non-irrigated spots will suffer the most.

"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 village 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.

"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," officials said.

However, the cultivation of non-paddy crops in the kharif season was also not encouraging due to the little rainfall.

Official figure shows out of 1,96,733 hectare of land targeted to cover under non-paddy crops in the district only 69,091 hectare has been achieved.

Read more HERE.
 

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