Heavy rains damage crops

SNS, Siliguri, 12 July: Continuous heavy rains have affected cultivation of paddy and vegetables in north Bengal’s Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, damaging seedbeds of Aman paddy and transplanted paddy samplings in the field as well as standing vegetables. 

According to the agriculture department, farmers were upset after heavy rains damaged seedbeds and paddy fields, just after completion of transplantation. Both the seedbeds and paddy fields, after transplantation, were under water over five days due to continuous rain on an average of 100 mm per day. 

The Assistant Director of Agriculture department in Jalpaiguri, Mr Devashis Sardar, said: “Excessive rain is not suitable for agriculture. Many seedbeds for Aman paddy were damaged. Farmers could not start transplanting paddy samplings because ready fields were under water. Due to excessive rain, transplantation process has been delayed. 

A section of farmers needs to make seed beds again. A maximum of 25-30 mm rainfall with regular intervals is suitable for agriculture and the growth rate remains normal.” 

Citing an example of Dhupguri block in Jalpaiguri district, where 20,000-hectare lands earmarked for paddy cultivation, Mr Sardar said: “Transplantation has been completed only in five per cent area of the total earmarked area for paddy cultivation in Dhupguri block.” 

The agriculture department is trying to introduce SRI (system of rice intensification) to increase the rate of production where farmers are still cultivating paddy following the traditional system. 

The department has set up six-demonstration centre for awareness campaign among farmers in Jalpaiguri agriculture belt at a time when the departmental officials are working under Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India (BGREI) project. 

Farmers in Dhupguri, Maynaguri and Falakata started cultivating variety of popular Aman paddy like Swarna, Niranjana, Anjana, Vijeta and others. 

Notably, in June, the climate was suitable for both agriculture and tea plantations due to normal rains and adequate sunlight. The growth rate and production of vegetables and tea plantation were high in June but heavy rains started in this region from the first week of July.