Inadequate rainfall delays, threatens paddy cultivation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2019:
Inadequate rainfall has been posing a serious challenge to paddy cultivation both in the hills and valley of the State.
A top official of Agriculture Department said that the total area under paddy cultivation in the valley districts of the State is 1,13,000 hectares while 82,000 hectares in the hill districts are used for jhum cultivation of paddy.
It is reported that Chief Minister N Biren would hold a high level meeting tomorrow and discuss about several measures which can help cultivation of paddy in the valley.
An action plan may be formulated at the meeting which would be attended by officials of Agriculture Department, Water Resources Department, Minor Irrigation Department and other relevant departments in order to tackle challenge posed by inadequate rainfall.
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District Agriculture Officers have been already instructed to submit reports on areas which are worst affected by the inadequate rainfall and the nearest sources of water from which water can be diverted to paddy fields, said the source.
Meanwhile, there is also an apprehension for possible flood in the State as Indian Meteorological Department has warned that the State would receive heavy rainfall in the first week of July.
According to information received from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Lamphel, the total volume of rainfall received by the State this year till date is 59 per cent lower than the average volume.
On account of inadequate rainfall in the months of March and April, jhum cultivation of paddy has been severely affected in the hill districts of the State.