RABI SOWING TO GAIN MOMENTUM

RABI SOWING TO GAIN MOMENTUM

31-OCT-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Intermittent rain over the last two days in Bhojpur—triggered by the storm 'Oranab' that formed in the Bay of Bengal—has heightened concerns among farmers. Paddy crops—both standing in the fields and those already harvested—have been soaked, bringing harvesting and drying operations to a standstill. Meanwhile, farmers preparing for the sowing of Rabi season crops are also forced to wait.

However, there is some welcome news. According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall will decrease significantly starting Saturday, and the weather is expected to be completely dry by Sunday. With the sun coming out, maximum temperatures are set to rise by up to 5 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department reported that the district received 23.6 mm of rainfall on Thursday and 35.4 mm on Friday. The total of 59 mm of rain over these two days has led to waterlogging in the fields. On Friday, wind speeds reached 23 km/h, and humidity levels climbed to 92%.

Agricultural scientist Dr. Ajay Maurya has advised farmers to prevent waterlogging in their fields. Harvested paddy should be moved to a safe, dry location and thoroughly dried once the sun comes out. In fields where water has accumulated, immediate drainage measures should be taken. He further cautioned farmers against rushing the sowing of Rabi crops such as wheat, chickpeas (gram), lentils, and mustard. Sowing in overly wet soil will hinder seed germination; farmers should wait until the top layer of the soil has dried and the earth has become loose and crumbly before proceeding with sowing.