Statesman News Service
MALDA, April 21: Continuing dry spell is taking a toll on ‘boro paddy’ in Malda district. According to the district principal agriculture officer, Mr R K Das, the dry spell has damaged 25 per cent of the paddy cultivated over 33,000 hectares in the Barind belt comprising Bamongola, Habibpur, Gazole and parts of Old Malda.
Besides boro paddy, jute cultivation has also been adversely hit due to lack of rain. Moreover, the local ponds and small waterbodies have dried up.
Malda district, which gets an average rainfall of 71 mm between January and April in other years, has received a paltry 9 mm rainfall in the corresponding period this year. Rainfall has been as low as 6.3 mm in some areas of the district. Conversely, the heat has increased. According to the weather department of the district agriculture department figures, the temperature has shot up to around 40 degree Celsius, which is five degree higher than normal. Worse still, soil temperature has increased too, affecting the roots of the plants.
In addition to paddy and jute, mango cultivation has also been hit and the small mangos are falling off the trees. "Irrigation through river lifting projects and deep tube wells are a must if the remaining mango has to be saved,” said the principal agriculture officer Mr Das. He also said that the Model Code of Conduct for elections is coming in the way of helping the farmers.
Frequent power cuts and for prolonged hours are proving a hurdle to river lifting irrigation projects for boro paddy compounding the conditions. Speaking on the issue the divisional manager, power department Mr D K Mondal said: “Farmers are getting power for lifting water from various sources. The demand of power has increased by 10 mega watt than last summer in the district.”
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