Orissa:
Farmers in Orissa are craning their necks hoping to catch sight of rain clouds.
It has been an unusually dry monsoon so far and that doesn't spell good news for either crops or farmers in the Orissa region. Wilted seedlings and parched fields are an unusual sight in July.
In Orissa, the paddy crop is drying, waiting for the monsoons to hit the region. Farmers from the Kendrapara district in Orissa say that the paddy crop is hugely suffering due to the elusive monsoon.
" The paddy crop is nearly dead. We fear complete loss and if that happens we have no option than to consume poison," said a local farmer from the area.
According to the state agriculture department, 23 of Orissa's 30 districts are rain deficient. The deficit is 39% to 59% in 12 districts whereas in some the deficit is over 60%.
At these times when the entire region is waiting to see some clouds in the sky, the message from the meteorological department could bring in some relief.
Dr S C Sahu, Director, Met Centre, Bhubaneswar said, ''There's strong possibility of low pressure forming over the bay by 24 or 25 July, and it will lead to widespread rains across Orissa.''
However, the agricultural ministry in the state seems to be pessimistic about the situation.
Dr Damodar Rout, Agriculture Minister, Orissa said, ''If still by end of this month there is no rain, then definitely a large chunk of land in various districts will suffer seriously.''
But such situations are not new for the often rain deprived region of Orissa. In the past, Orissa farmers have faced similarly dry monsoons. Especially in 1994 and 2002.
Farmers fear that this year, the situation might get equally worse.
It has been an unusually dry monsoon so far and that doesn't spell good news for either crops or farmers in the Orissa region. Wilted seedlings and parched fields are an unusual sight in July.
In Orissa, the paddy crop is drying, waiting for the monsoons to hit the region. Farmers from the Kendrapara district in Orissa say that the paddy crop is hugely suffering due to the elusive monsoon.
" The paddy crop is nearly dead. We fear complete loss and if that happens we have no option than to consume poison," said a local farmer from the area.
According to the state agriculture department, 23 of Orissa's 30 districts are rain deficient. The deficit is 39% to 59% in 12 districts whereas in some the deficit is over 60%.
At these times when the entire region is waiting to see some clouds in the sky, the message from the meteorological department could bring in some relief.
Dr S C Sahu, Director, Met Centre, Bhubaneswar said, ''There's strong possibility of low pressure forming over the bay by 24 or 25 July, and it will lead to widespread rains across Orissa.''
However, the agricultural ministry in the state seems to be pessimistic about the situation.
Dr Damodar Rout, Agriculture Minister, Orissa said, ''If still by end of this month there is no rain, then definitely a large chunk of land in various districts will suffer seriously.''
But such situations are not new for the often rain deprived region of Orissa. In the past, Orissa farmers have faced similarly dry monsoons. Especially in 1994 and 2002.
Farmers fear that this year, the situation might get equally worse.
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