Vegetable production expected to suffer
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, July 13 : The weak monsoon rain in the
district has raised the concerns of the Met department and farmers. The worry
is that the lack of rainfall will not only makes the temperature harsh but also
will affect the agricultural productivity of several vegetables that are grown
in
Patamda block.
While on a normal year, the fields would be full and lush green by July, this
year the sight is a jumble of fully-planted and half-planted fields. And then,
there are fields that are not ploughed at all. That is what the lack of rains
has done to the farmers.
Some had sown their entire fields and are now totally depend on the mercy
of the rain god. Others have left some land unsown and are undecided about when
to sow the remaining seedlings.
According to information only 15 per cent sowing had taken place in fields
compared to over 50 per cent during this period of the year due to insufficient
rainfall.
The officials of local Met office said that with rain clouds playing hide and
seek for over a fortnight, it would be difficult to predict when the monsoon rains will arrive. The officials added that though last
year the area had witnessed heavy but this season it has been badly hit.
Most other farmers in the belt find themselves in a similar fix. They have
transplanted the seedlings to most of the fields and have done everything they
can do but yet find themselves in a rough situation their crops depend so much
on water.
“I had seeds of vegetables and tended to them to the best of my abilities
and have done everything that was within my control. Then it rained a bit three
days ago and it gave us a bit of hope. But that did not last long as it hasn’t
rained after that,” 65-year-old Bir Manjhi, a farmer of Patamda.
�There are no rains, no water in the ground water. The deep boring has
dried up as the ground water has decreased. Only if it rains, the water
level will grow and people like us can survive. Moreover water level in rivers
is causing much concern to the people,� said Mohammed Nizam, a resident of
Jugsalai.
�This year not only has the monsoon played truant, the price rise situation has worsened our situation.
The previous year, the monsoons were exceptionally good.
The next year, people rushed and sowed all their seedlings at the first excuse
of rains. But it did not rain
enough. This is the toughest period we ever faced in the past decade. Without
rains, the corps will be wasted even if I plant them now,” conceded
another farmer.
In effect, despite the farmer and the government claiming to have done
everything thatthey can, it depends of the mercy of rain god.
