Heavy rain boosts paddy sowing in Jharkhand

RANCHI - Incessant rains in Jharkhand over the last two days are likely to boost paddy sowing, severely hit this year due to scanty showers.

Due to poor rainfall this year, less than 15 percent of the average paddy sowing activity could be completed till July 12, said an official of the Jharkhand agriculture department.

In a year with normal rains, 50-60 percent of paddy sowing is completed by this date.

“The monsoon arrived in Jharkhand June 18 and till July 12 it received rainfall of 153 mm against 330 mm received on an average. The incessant rainfall which is taking place in all most all parts of the state in the last two days is likely to help the farmers in paddy sowing,” met department official G.K. Mohanty told IANS.

According to met department, the state may receive more than 150 mm rainfall in next two-three days. The incessant rainfall is good news for the paddy farmers facing a tough time this year.

In June this year, Jharkhand received 88.2 mm rainfall as compared to 113.5 mm and 136.4 mm in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

From July 1-10, the state received 15.3 mm rainfall which was 31.6 mm and 125.7 mm for the same period in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

According to met officials, Jharkhand has so far received only 50 percent rainfall of the average. The scanty rainfall caused a drought like situation in state.

Due to the scanty rainfall, farmers in many districts of the state had started sowing seeds instead of the conventional practice of transplanting paddy saplings.

Jharkhand depends heavily on rains for farming. Only 12 percent of the cultivable land relies on an irrigation system as against the national average of 40 percent.

“We hope rain god will help us sow paddy. We were disappointed but rain in the last two days has given us hope. The rain is enough for sowing but it is not enough to sustain the paddy crops which needs water for long period of time,” said Anil Baitha, a farmer.