Drought-like situation follows heat wave

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 23: The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das convened a meeting today with the agriculture department to review the ‘drought-like situation’ and heat wave prevailing here over the past few days. Heat wave continues unabated, drying up small water sources affecting jute, mango and vegetable cultivation. The layer of underground water has gradually been going down due to this dry spell. Farmers, are facing water crisis for irrigation due to lack of rain. The district plant protection officer (DPPO) of Malda agriculture department Dr Tamal Kumar Sarkar said jute and vegetable cultivation would be badly hit if the dry spell continues. Dr Sarkar said the standing paddy crop like boro is in harvesting position and all boro paddy fields were under ‘assured’ irrigation area and would not be affected. But he said farmers for jute and vegetables are being affected. "Mainly the standing vegetables need rain this time," he said. Dr Sarkar said the normal rainfall in April is 39.1 mm here but it has received only 18.1 mm till date, creating problems in the agriculture sector. In April 2007 the district had 25.5 mm rainfall. From January to April in 2008 the district has already received 90.4 mm rainfall, higher than the average rainfall in the last five years, but in April the district did not receive normal rainfall In 2004 the district had received 86.8 mm rainfall from January to April. From 2005 to 2007 it received 77.2 mm, 74.6 mm and 72.5mm rainfall. “We cannot say this dry spell is drought. The changing rain pattern has affected the agriculture sector,” the DPPO said.