Kharif sowing begins with first showers of monsoon in Jharkhand

RANCHI: Sowing of kharif crops including paddy has started in several districts of Jharkhand, thanks to the timely onset of monsoon this year coupled with good amount of pre-monsoon showers that have created a congenial environment for farmers to prepare their fields. The distribution of seeds in advance and routine farm-related advisories have also aided the farmers who are now hoping to reap a good harvest this year.
Monsoon entered Jharkhand on Saturday via Sahibganj and Pakur districts. On Sunday, it covered almost all districts except a few on the western flank of the state but they, too, would get covered in the next two to three days, officials said. Close to 200mm pre-monsoon rain was witnessed this year from mid-March to the end of May and it has enriched the farmlands with sufficient moisture content suitable to begin sowing.
Talking to TOI, a senior agro-meteorologist at Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), A Wadood, said that farmers have begun sowing across large parts in the state. “The BAU as well as the state agriculture department have been regularly issuing pre-sowing advisories to our farmers to help them ready their fields on time. Good pre-monsoon rains turned out to be boon for farmers as a result of which we are seeing commencement of sowing in June itself,” Wadood said.
“The quality and quantity of the yield are directly dependent on timely sowing. Before 2020, by the end of July, we used to have 25-30% sowing coverage and by the end of August or early September, we used to touch 80-85%. The acute heat and poor pre-monsoon rain used to harden the fields and make it difficult for farmers to plough. We can expect a bumper harvest this year, too, like last year owing to good climatic conditions,” he said. Last year, the state had recorded paddy harvest of over 50 lakh tonnes.
Paddy is cultivated on about 18 lakh hectares in Jharkhand while about 3.12 lakh hectares are under maize cultivation and 6.12 lakh hectares under pulses. Figures from the state agriculture department suggest that till June 12, direct sowing on about 7,000 hectare has been completed. A department official said, “We are aiming to touch 80% sowing coverage by the end of July. Since seed distribution begun in mid-May, we are hoping that farmers are almost in the last phases to prepare their fields to begin sowing. As far as Covid protocols are concerned, we are also advising everyone through our regular farm bulletins to maintain appropriate behaviour such as keeping social distancing and using masks while working in the fields.”