Vid still 35% deficient in rainfall, sowing operations affected
| Date :25-Jun-2022 |
Staff Reporter
Barring a downpour a few days ago, entire Vidarbha region is yet to receive widespread rains. As a result, the region is deficient as compared to average rainfall in the month of June, so far. Due to this, sowing operations for Kharif agricultural season are affected and farmers are adopting ‘wait and watch’ approach.
As per the data with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Vidarbha region has received 35 per cent less rainfall as compared to the average rainfall between June 1 and June 24. Not one out of 11 districts of the region has received average or above-average rainfall so far this month. Among the districts of Vidarbha, Gadchiroli is the most deficient, while Nagpur is the least deficient. Gadchiroli has
received 51 per cent lesser rainfall than average, while Nagpur has received 24 per cent lesser rainfall than average.
As far as Nagpur district is concerned, it receives average rainfall of 112 mm between June 1 and June 24, as per the IMD. Compared to that, it has received 84.9 mm rainfall so far, which is 24 per cent deficient. However, there is a variation in the data with the district administration.
As per the data with the district administration, Nagpur district receives average rainfall of 132.39 mm, against which it has received 80.57 mm (60.86 per cent) rainfall between June 1 and June 24. In case of data of both, IMD and the district administration, rainfall deficit is clear.
Within Nagpur district, Nagpur city has received 60.47 per cent rainfall as compared to the average so far. Narkhed tehsil has received 89.73 per cent rainfall, the highest. It is followed by Hingna tehsil receiving 80.35 per cent rainfall, and Parseoni tehsil receiving 75.67 per cent rainfall. Rest tehsils have received less than 70 per cent rainfall. Mouda, which is agriculturally important tehsil of the district, has received 63.34 per cent rainfall and is 36.66 per cent deficient. Umred has received only 45.19 per cent rainfall, which is the lowest in Nagpur district.
Due to lesser than average rainfall so far, the farmers have adopted ‘wait and watch’ approach. The sowing operations have been affected not only in Nagpur district but also in entire Vidarbha region.
According to Dr Mukund Moholkar, who has done PhD in Vedang Jyotish, some districts of Maharashtra will receive light showers between June 26 and July 4. At some places, sky will be cloudy but there will be no rainfall. Between July 2 and July 4, five districts of Vidarbha namely Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Akola, and Buldhana will receive rainfall. According to him, good rainfall will be received only after July 13. Hence, he appealed to the farmers to go for sowing of short-cycle crops. Based on tropical speed and degree conjunction with other planets and constellation stars, Dr Moholkar predicted that monsoon rains might extend to mid-November.