The recent spell of rains has partially recouped the damage the paddy saplings have suffered due to scanty rainfall in eight districts, including Balasore.
Kharif operation was considerably delayed in Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada and Boudh districts due to deficient rainfall in June and July.
Having 50.6 per cent deficient rainfall than normal, paddy crops in many parts of Balasore district were heading for a moisture stress condition. Similar condition was prevailing in Deogarh (-36.6 per cent deviation), Keonjhar (-35.5 per cent) and Bhadrak (-35.3 per cent).
Although broadcasting and raising of paddy nursery were completed in all the districts, beusaning (inter-cultural operation) and transplanting of paddy seedlings were considerably delayed in the eight districts due to inadequate water in the paddy field.
“Transplanting, beusaning, weeding and application of chemical fertilisers are going on in full swing in most of the blocks of the other 22 districts after good rainfall,” said a senior officer of the Agriculture Department. Though the conditions have improved to a great extent in the eight districts having deficient rainfall, another spell of rain in these districts is highly desired, the sources said.
Rainfall deviation of 19 per cent (plus or minus) is considered to be normal in agriculture parlance. While the State average pre-monsoon rainfall deviation was 49 per cent, the average monsoon rainfall till August 4 was 10 per cent less.
The State Government has planned paddy cultivation over an area of 40 lakh hectares during the current kharif season. However, 22.23 lakh hectares have been covered under paddy cultivation as against 24.55 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.
According to the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production, the State Government has supplied over 4.58 lakh quintal of certified seeds to the districts of which 4.22 lakh quintals have been sold to farmers.
Even as the projected requirement of chemical fertilisers of the State up to July was 5.16 lakh tonnes, the total availability was over 3.85 lakh tonnes. While demand of urea is more in the State, there was a stock of 28,261 tonnes as on July 31 after a sale of over 1.35 lakh tonnes. Though the State had a stock of nearly 13,000 tonnes of muriate potash (MoP), 20,000 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and over 33,000 tonnes of complex fertilisers, there is a spurt in the demand for chemical fertilisers after the recent spell of rains. The State Government has requested the Centre to make adequate supply of fertilisers to meet the increasing demand from the farmers.
There are reports of pest attacks from 51 blocks of western Odisha districts. Field functionaries of the department have been instructed to conduct mass spraying in the affected areas, the sources said.
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