Dehradun:Â Half of December has passed in Uttarakhand, but the farmers of the state are facing a serious crisis due to lack of rain and snowfall. The light rain and snowfall that usually occur in November and December did not occur this time.
Record 98% less rainfall in November
The state recorded 98% less rainfall than normal in November, and not a single drop of rain fell in the state till December 14. This has deepened the agricultural crisis.
Low soil moisture, impact on rabi crops
In Chamoli, wheat, barley, peas, mustard and mustard crops are being affected due to lack of rain for the last one and a half months. Lack of rain and cold are rapidly reducing the moisture in the fields. According to agriculture expert Tejpal, if this situation continues, the rabi crop may suffer a lot.
District Agriculture Officer JP Tiwari says that if there is rain in January and February, the crops can be saved to some extent.
Apple growers’ concerns grow
Apple growers in Uttarakashi district are worried. A good crop requires about 25 days of cold, which is fulfilled only by snowfall. Gardener Mahesh Panwar said that there has been neither rain nor snowfall this year.
Farmers Gaur Singh (Chamoli) and Raghuveer Singh Negi (Urgam Valley) also expressed concerns about the lack of rain.
Drought crisis in Ravi Valley
Farmers in Ravi Valley of Uttarakashi had sown peas and wheat in their fields by October, depending on the moisture, but now the situation seems to be worsening. Farmers Shialik Ram Nautiyal, Jagmohan Kaida and Ramesh Aswal said that due to lack of rain, seeds are not sprouting properly, which is likely to affect production.
Cost of horticulture reduced, crisis in plains
Farmers in plains including Haridwar are also worried due to lack of rain. The use of tubewells for irrigation is increasing, which is increasing the cost of farming and putting financial pressure on farmers.
Meteorological Department warning
According to Meteorological Department Director Dr. C.S. Tomar, the state received an average of only 1 mm of rainfall in November, which is 98 percent less than normal. Nine districts have not received a single drop of rain so far in December. He said that the weather in the state will remain dry till December 20, and there is no concrete possibility of rain or snowfall in any district.