.........JAJPUR: Truant monsoon in the current kharif season has forced thousands of farmers in Jajpur district to use pump sets as an alternative to irrigate their paddy fields.


Below normal rainfall in the district during July and August has also delayed cultivation of paddy. Wide cracks have developed in the agricultural lands sans sufficient water. Besides, standing crops in the parched lands have changed colour, much to the frustration of farmers. With no other option, farmers are being forced to use pump sets to draw water for the crops. “The standing paddy crops in my field had started changing colour without water. With no alternative, I was forced to hire a water pump to irrigate my 10 acres of paddy fields,” said Bhikari Charan Biswal, a farmer of Brahmabarada.

The pump sets are being hired at Rs 5,000 each and this alterative watering lasts for a week, Biswal said and asked how can farmers afford pump sets every week if the situation continues. As per the information from Agriculture Department, paddy has been planted over 85,000 hectares (ha) of land in this season so far. While the average rainfall in August is 950 mm in the district, it recorded 561 mm only, 40 per cent less than the normal.

Officials said the drop in sowing in the district is nominal as compared to last year and would recover as soon as monsoon gathers pace in the region. Agricultural scientists also hoped that transplantation which has been delayed would start over the next few days as monsoon gathers steam. “Normally, monsoon reaches Orissa coast in second week of June following which, sowing of paddy seeds begin. In most parts of the Jajpur district, kharif cultivation begins from mid-June and lasts till September 10,” said Gagan Behari Mohanty, Deputy Director of Agriculture.

However, due to the delayed monsoon sowing of seeds has been put off in most parts of the district, he further said. If the district does not receive good rainfall by September 10, drought-like situation is likely to prevail causing extensive damage to the kharif crops in the area, he added.