State records 7.5 per cent rainfall deficit
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 20 2022:
The state recorded 7.5 per cent rainfall deficit this year and acute shortage of rainfall during July and October is the main reason behind the prevailing drought situation and imminent crop failure.
As per a report from Agromet Field Unit, ICAR Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, the normal annual rainfall in the state should be 1460.9 mm.
However, the state has so far recorded 1351.3 mm rainfall resulting in deficit of 109.6 mm (7.5 per cent).
Even though there is a small deviation from the normal rainfall, erratic and untimely rainfall had given severe impact on the agriculture sector by causing flash floods during the seed sowing season and dry spell during growth period of paddy crops.
As a result, most of the agricultural land in the state is facing drought situation and crop failure now.
Based on historical data, month-wise normal rainfall should be 12.8 mm in January, 38.8 mm in February, 76 mm in March, 122.9 mm in April, 173.6 mm in May, 262.6 mm in June, 240.3 mm in July, 201.5 mm in August, 157.5 mm in September, 124.9 mm in October, 35 mm in November and 14.9 mm in December.
However, rainfall quantity recorded during the current year was 30.4 mm in January, 47.9 mm in February, 57 mm in March, 141 mm in April, 382.9 mm, in May, 286.2 mm in June, 148.4 mm in July, 94.8 mm in August, 98.6 mm in September and 64.1 mm in October (till date).
May and June recorded excessive rainfall resulting in flooding of agricultural lands during the seed sowing season, which started slightly earlier this year due to early monsoon arrival.
Whereas, the normal rainfall for July-October period should be 724.2 mm but this year, the period recorded only 405.9 mm of rainfall resulting in deficit of 318.3 mm rainfall.
On account of absence of water conservation mechanism and proper irrigation facility, most of the agricultural land dried up in the following months when the rainfall amount dip drastically.
According to the report, the state had recorded rainfall deficit for four years in the last five years.
The report said that 9.25 per cent rainfall deficit was recorded in 2018, 22.16 per cent in 2019, 11.06 per cent in 2021 and 7.5 per cent in 2022.Meanwhile, 2020 reported excess rainfall of 11.38 per cent by recording 1627.1 mm.
The state government declared drought in 2019 when rainfall deficit was at 22.16 per cent.