Preparations for paddy cultivation has commenced in the state in anticipation of the arrival of monsoons, reports Bhiva P Parab
It is monsoon season and farmers in the state have begun process of carrying out the agricultural activities. As of now the forecast of normal rains has brought cheers on the faces of farmers making them optimistic of a good crop.
The farming community in the state seems to be in buoyant mood. “We are happy with the showers in the first week of June and we have already started process of paddy cultivation and traditionally the process of paddy cultivation begins with Mriga Nakshatra which begin in June and during this period which goes on for few days there is generally plenty of rains and this gathers enough water in the fields for further taking the paddy cultivation process and hope monsoon to be normal this year.”
According to the information available from the sources, the earth becomes hot due to the scorching summer and first rains makes it cool and making it suitable for the paddy cultivation. Normal rains are good for the paddy crop and other crops also which are cultivated during the monsoon season. It is not the total rainfall which is important in the agricultural activities, but the distribution of rainfall is important. Due to the monsoon showers the agricultural land becomes soft and ready for cultivation.
It may be noted that the agricultural activities have begun in the state and mainly the ploughing of paddy fields will commence shortly with the rains in June making the land wet.
According to the information available from the sources, if there is delay or deficient rains, it also delays the cultivation of the paddy during the winter season and if there is less rains there will be less water available for the paddy cultivation during the winter paddy cultivation and in the sloppy areas the water does not accumulate and so more rains are required for paddy cultivation here.
While speaking some farmers said, “We are happy with the rains and the prediction of normal rains this year has made us happier. When the rains are normal the paddy cycle is normal and if the rains are delayed or deficient it could disrupt the paddy cycle. Moreover if the sowing of seeds is delayed then everything gets delayed including harvesting, threshing or winnowing.”
According to the information available from the farmers, to boost the paddy cultivation in the state the government has provided the farmers with various schemes and it seems that these schemes are doing their job of boosting paddy cultivation in the state and that more farmers should take benefits of the various schemes of the government and go for agriculture and especially the younger generation should come forward and take interest in the farming activities and work in the agricultural fields.
Where getting labourers for harvesting and threshing of paddy has become difficult and costly, the farmers in the various parts of the state are turning towards mechanized farming. This can be seen through the sheer increase in the number of harvesting-threshing-cum-winnowing machines used in the state over the years.
Due to these machines the farmers do not have to depend on the labourers for carrying out harvesting and threshing of the paddy. The machine takes around only one hour for harvesting-threshing-cum-winnowing of 4000 sqmts of paddy field, whereas the same work labourers will take several days.
According to the information available from the sources, the short duration paddy seeds could be used if there is delay in the monsoon at the beginning, however, if there is dry spell in the middle of the monsoon season then, the short duration variety of paddy seeds also is not useful and rains are needed on time, as the first rains makes the land soft and it becomes ready for tilling, however, if the rains are delayed then it will have effect on various stages of the paddy process like harvesting, threshing or winnowing and if the dry days continue and if there is deficient rains then there may be effect on the
paddy yield.
The vegetables and pulses are mostly cultivated after July heavy rains and it is the paddy which is the main crop for which plenty of rain is required and there are various varieties of paddy seeds which have different growth time and some paddy seeds require 130 to 135 days, while there are varieties of paddy seeds which require 105 to 110 days. In case of little delay in the rains short duration seeds can be used by the farmers in the state.