PANAJI
With rainfall remaining below normal and prolonged dry spells gripping Goa in September, agriculture in several parts of the State has come under stress, with farmers fearing crop damage due to rising temperatures and inadequate soil moisture. The Agriculture Department has directed its field officers to assess the ground situation and submit a report by the end of the month. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa has recorded a 37 per cent rainfall deficit in September, while the cumulative deficit since June 1 stands at 32 per cent. The State has not recorded more than an inch of rainfall on any single day in September, with several days remaining completely dry.
Director of Agriculture Chandrahas Desai said Zonal Officers had been directed to inspect fields across the State and assess the situation.
“So far, we have not received any complaints regarding crop damage either at the department or zonal office level. However, field inspections will help determine the actual extent of the damage,” Desai said, while acknowledging that the prevailing weather conditions were not favourable for paddy cultivation.
The decline in rainfall, coupled with rising temperatures, has raised concerns over moisture stress and drying of plant roots. The IMD has issued a yellow alert, with officials hoping that rainfall over the next two to three days will provide some relief. As reported earlier in The Goan, Agriculturist Nestor Rangel had warned that the combination of deficient rainfall and prolonged dry spells could affect paddy production. He said farmers could witness a higher incidence of ‘poll’, in which grains fail to fill properly, directly affecting yields. Farmers have also expressed concern over crops nearing maturity, saying they require cooler conditions at this stage. “After the crop has matured, it now urgently needs cooler weather. With temperatures rising, the situation is becoming difficult,” farmers said.
They said brief showers two days ago provided some relief, but the lack of sustained rainfall had increased fears of crops drying up. “The rains have not been frequent. This year, the loss is expected to be between 35 and 40 per cent,” farmers said. Goa received 2,055.4 mm of rainfall against the normal 2,992.4 mm between June 1 and September 26, according to the IMD.
