MARGAO
With no immediate signs of widespread monsoon activity, agriculture officers are advising farmers to consider short-duration paddy varieties such as Ratnagiri-7 and Jyoti to minimise the impact of the delayed sowing season.
Officials said that if monsoon rains arrive by the first week of July, farmers can still undertake cultivation using these varieties, which mature within approximately 110 to 115 days.
“The delay in the annual rains has disrupted the normal paddy cultivation cycle. To overcome the time constraints and ensure a successful harvest, farmers may opt for Ratnagiri-7 and Jyoti varieties, provided the monsoon sets in during early July,” an agriculture officer said.
The recommendation is aimed at helping farmers salvage the season and avoid further losses in the event of a shortened cultivation window.
As the wait for rain continues, farmers across Goa remain hopeful that the monsoon will arrive soon enough to rescue the state's most important agricultural crop and restore normalcy to the countryside.
