Weak monsoon foreseen this year

EVEN AS the farmers in the state are gleefully watching the water-laden clouds hovering in the sky, the Agriculture Department officers say, do not expect abundant rains, as there will be a weak monsoon in the coming days.

The monsoon has already entered Bihar and parts of East Uttar Pradesh. The Meteorological Department officials said this year the monsoon was advancing earlier in comparison to previous years. The conditions were favourable. We expect good to moderate rainfall, the officials said.

But the Agriculture Department has blew the whistle, warning the farmers not to go in for early ‘kharif’ plantation in the hope that rains will continue in the coming days too. “You may curse your stars later if you go overboard due to over enthusiasm,” the officers said. Director Agriculture Sabhajit Tiwari said there was information from the Union Agriculture Ministry and the Central Meteorological Department that the South West Monsoon would weaken and the rainfall would be scarce.

“The farmers who wish to take the benefits of early monsoon have started plantation. But we have cautioned the farmers, with little rainfall in the coming days they would be left with no option but to depend on canals or carry on the plantation with their own resources”, Tiwari said.“The farmers have been directed to prepare the paddy nursery in phases. They should start plantation of paddy only after the arrival of the next phase of the monsoon”, he said.

Agriculture Department has already started organising farmers’ meets in Nyay Panchayats areas. The aim of the meets is to create awareness among farmers about plantation during the ‘kharif’ season.

The availability of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and desiltation of the canals was being monitored on a regular basis. The Agriculture Production Commissioner has already directed the officials to ensure water in the canal reaches at the tail end, regular power supply in rural areas and to ensure the tubewells installed by the government were functioning.

State Meteorology Director RK Verma said after striking, the monsoon generally weakens. It’s a natural process and after a few days it would pick up again, he said.