Paddy growers make kharif cultivation prep as rains come early in Sundargarh

WITH more than average rainfall in May and indication of an early monsoon onset, farmers across Sundargarh district have begun preparing agricultural land with the hope to initiate sowing in appropriate time.

- PRASANJEET SARKAR @Rourkela

Against the normal rainfall for 41.4 mm in May, the district received, over the past 25 days, 92.6 mm showers making agricultural land suitable for ploughing. After the Akshay Tritiya festival, land preparation begun sporadically which gained momentum over the past fortnight in all blocks.

Sources said, during the 2024 kharif crop season, both pre and post paddy farming activities were pushed back by two to three weeks over delayed arrival of monsoon. It was followed by 43 per cent and 45 per cent deficit rainfall in June and July respectively.