July 14th 2024.
In the block of Bhadrak district, located in the state of Tihidi, monsoon season has arrived. However, it has been a month now and the much-awaited Kharif farming activities have not yet commenced. The main reason for this delay is the insufficient rainfall that has been received in the area.
Adding to the problem is the fact that the only alternative source of irrigation, the Dasamauja Canal, has dried up. As a result, the paddy fields in the block have a parched appearance, with the soil cracking and the once-green plants now turning a yellow hue. This has caused great despair among the local farmers, and there is a growing fear that the situation will worsen if there is no significant rainfall in the coming weeks.
Paddy is the main crop grown in this block, covering around 20,000 hectares of land. However, this year, the farmers faced unfavorable weather conditions even before the start of the Raja Sankranti festival, which is a significant time for farming activities. Due to this, they were unable to prepare their fields in time and could only do so after the festival. Some farmers managed to prepare their fallow fields for planting rice, but it is estimated that only around 4,000 hectares of land have been prepared for paddy cultivation in various panchayats of the block.
This year, the farmers had invested in improved varieties of rice seeds, which cost them around Rs 750-1,000 for a 20 kg pack. However, the sporadic rainfall and intense heat have caused the water in the soil to evaporate quickly, resulting in cracked fields and yellowing rice plants. This is a major concern for the farmers as they may have to spend extra money on irrigation if there is no significant rainfall in the next few days. This could also make it difficult to transplant the paddy seedlings from moderately wet fields.
The current situation has also raised worries about a significant decrease in rice production this year. The farmers are deeply disappointed that the Dasamauja Canal, which could provide much-needed irrigation, has not been filled with water yet. They are urging the authorities to address this pressing issue and take necessary action at the earliest.
The Block Agriculture Officer, Raghunath Pati, has also expressed concern about the adverse conditions faced by the farmers since the beginning of the farming season. He believes that if there is no substantial rainfall in the coming weeks, it will severely impact paddy cultivation and hinder rice production. The situation is indeed critical, and it is crucial for everyone to work together to find a solution before it is too late.
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