Scanty rains worry paddy, jute cultivators in South Dinajpur

The lack of rainfall has emerged as a major problem for paddy cultivation and jute decomposition process in South Dinajpur. There is a 40 per cent deficit in rainfall so far.

Jyotirmoy Karforma, dean of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, stated that South Dinajpur usually receives about 330 ml of rain in July, but this year, the rainfall record shows only 240 ml in July thus far, which accounts for about 40 per cent deficit.

He said that 250 ml of rain was supposed to fall in June but only 150 ml was received and so, due to the lack of rain, paddy planting is being disrupted.

“The agriculture department is advising the farmers to plant paddy through irrigation. Since there is a shortage of rain in the district, there is no other option except irrigation. In South Dinajpur, 1.70 lakh hectares of land is cultivated with aman paddy every year. So far, it has been possible to plant paddy on 30 per cent of the land this year,” he said.

According to him, if the rainfall is normal later, it will be possible to plant paddy in the rest of the land.

Regarding the decomposing process of jute that needs plenty of water, the lack of rainfall has emerged as a major problem. “To resolve the problem, water must be stored through irrigation and jute soaked in that water so that fibers can be extracted. This situation is unusual,” he said.

Karforma said that South Dinajpur has not witnessed such a shortage of rainfall in the recent past. “This condition is due to global warming. If the rainfall is not evenly distributed, its impact on agriculture will be negative. It is seen that in case of fish farming in ponds, it is being done there by storing water with the help of pumps, due to lack of water. One cannot rely on rain this year,” he said.

Gupin Murmu, a farmer of Balurghat block, said paddy plantation and jute decomposition are suffering greatly due to lack of water and insufficient rainfall. “Most of the farmers could not plant paddy and the jute was not rotting. If it doesn’t rain, we will face huge losses,” he said.

Shibu Soren, another farmer of the same block said that he could not harvest jute due to scanty rain. “Even if I harvest, where will it be decomposed? I am taking the small quantity that I have harvested to the river to soak, without any alternative left,” he stated.

Regarding paddy cultivation, he said: “Due to lack of rain, we have to cultivate paddy through water irrigation but it is increasing our cost.

The situation is complicated. If it doesn’t rain, we will be in big trouble.”