Kendrapada: The arrival of monsoon and continuous rainfall over the past two weeks have brought much-needed relief to farmers in Kendrapada district, ending a prolonged dry spell and triggering a surge in kharif cultivation activities.Farmers across the district have begun preparing their fields for sowing and transplanting paddy, with the agriculture department targeting paddy cultivation over 1.24 lakh hectares during the current kharif season. “The continuous rains have filled hundreds of ponds and ditches that dried up earlier. Farmers are now busy preparing their fields, procuring paddy seeds and transplanting seedlings,” said Bhikari Mohanty, a farmer from Ichapur village.Another farmer, Chittaranjan Sahoo of Bedari village, said, “With the rains continuing, we have no time to waste and are fully engaged in farming operations.” The delayed and erratic monsoon earlier forced farmers to depend on canal irrigation and groundwater, raising concerns over cultivation costs.However, the recent rainfall has improved soil moisture and eased irrigation requirements. “With the monsoon finally arriving in July, the expenditure on irrigation will come down considerably,” said Umesh Chandra Singh, president of the district Krushak Sabha.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued rainfall in the district over the next few days. Farmers, who delayed cultivation fearing deficient rainfall due to possible El Niño conditions, have resumed agricultural operations. “The timely rainfall has boosted farmers’ confidence. It is highly beneficial for paddy cultivation and will also help recharge the rapidly depleting groundwater levels,” said Suresh Chandra Mallick, chief district agriculture officer, Kendrapada. He added that the overcast skies and intermittent drizzle have reduced dependence on electricity for irrigation.
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