In meeting with state government, Relief Commissioner asked to assess crop losses due to rain in a week
File photo: CSE The monsoon 2023 has become active for many districts of Uttar Pradesh, which saw heavy rainfall for three consecutive days over the last weekend. While the rainfall is a shot in the arm for paddy farmers, vegetable cultivators are reporting huge losses.
Districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh saw dry, drought like conditions for most of the monsoon this year, from June to August. However, these areas are now facing a flood-like situation. Many cities were excessively waterlogged due to the rains.
Bhagatram of Patna Khargaura village in Shravasti district of UP was preparing to irrigate his paddy fields with pumps. “The unexpected rain saved me money and watered my paddy fields as well,” he said.
Shravasti district received 26 per cent less rainfall than normal in the period from June 1 to September 12. The district still remains in the rainfall deficient category.
Paddy is still in the flowering stage in the region, so the rain will be beneficial, said agriculture officer of Shravasti, Prasad Mishra. “This time paddy has been sown on about 78,000 hectares in Shravasti, which is more than last year,” he said.
However, vegetable farmers in Moradabad and Baghpat districts of western UP have suffered huge losses. Carrot and chilli crops have spoiled due to the unexpected rain, said Gaurav Tomar in Angadpur Jogri village of Baghpat.
In a meeting with the Uttar Pradesh government, the Relief Commissioner for the state has been asked to assess the crop loss due to rain in a week.
A farmer from Karnipur village in Gonda district of UP said the region saw normal rainfall, so maize, sugarcane and paddy crops were not damaged. “Paddy nursery in the region was planted around June 25 this time and sowing was done on July 20. It will take at least 15 days for the rice ears to come in. If there is heavy rainfall in the meantime, the crops may be damaged,” said Jai Prakash Pandey.
Sugarcane crops in parts of Gonda that were flooded due to rains suffered a lot, the farmer added.
Moradabad, Hardoi, Bahraich, Lucknow, Kannauj, Barabanki, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Jhansi and Siddharthnagar districts recorded heavy rainfall between September 10, 2023 and September 12, 2023, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Large excess rainfall in Etah and Barabanki districts of UP was recorded as per the total monsoon rainfall this year to September 12 from June 1.
A comparison of the rainfall data of September 8, 2023 and September 12, 2023, UP districts have recorded an improvement. On September 8, 2023, there was excess rainfall in 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh, while on September 12, excess rainfall was recorded in 11 districts.
These districts are: Kannauj, Badaun, Bijnor, Firozabad, Hamirpur, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar and Sambhal.
At the same time, on September 8, normal rainfall was witnessed in 19 districts of Uttar Pradesh, which has increased to 25 districts on September 12. There were 39 districts in deficit on September 8, which reduced to 32.
Chandauli, Kaushambi, Mau and Pilibhit districts are still large deficient.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.