Some Kharif crops damaged due to uneven and irregular distribution of rains

21-Aug-2024 06:23 PM

New Delhi. Although the current season of South-West monsoon has received more rain than the normal average at the national level,

but due to more rain in some areas and less rain in some other areas, there are reports of damage especially to pulses, paddy and horticultural crops.

According to the Meteorological Department, in the current monsoon season, till August 19, the country received 7.3 percent more rain than the long-term average.

But still, out of the 725 districts from which data is collected, about 30 percent of the districts recorded less or very less rainfall than normal.

This has increased the concern of the farmers a lot. On the other hand, 10 percent of these districts received heavy surplus (much more than required) rain, which was not good for the health of Kharif crops.

According to agricultural experts, due to less rain in some places and more rain in some places, the possibility of damage to the new born Kharif crops has increased.

Director of I Grain India, Rahul Chauhan says that the inflation graph in pulses is already very high and in such a situation,

the loss of pulse crops can prove to be very painful for the government and farmers as well as consumers. In a state like Punjab which has irrigation facilities, the cost of crops will increase due to lack of rain.

According to the Meteorological Department, 28 percent of the districts have received less than normal rainfall while the other 2 percent districts are facing severe shortage of rain.

On the other hand, about 17 percent of the districts are getting more or very high rainfall than the normal average.

Due to uneven distribution of rain, along with paddy and pulses, vegetables, coffee and spice crops are also getting damaged. First there was severe heat,

then there was torrential rain and landslides also occurred in many areas. Pepper and maize crops were damaged due to excessive rain in Chikmagalur. Compared to the normal average,

this time the rainfall deficit was recorded to be 28 percent in Jammu Kashmir, 35 percent in Punjab, 21 percent in Himachal Pradesh, 12 percent in eastern Uttar Pradesh, 23 percent in Bihar and 20 percent in the Gangetic region of West Bengal.

On the other hand, states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have received more than normal rainfall.