Source: Hueiyen News Service
Chandel, August 24 2009:
Though farmers of Chandel district have transplanted paddy for the third time � some for the fourth time�this year due to scarcity of monsoon rains, farmers are apprehensive of reaping the produces owing to late monsoons.
This was learnt during a recent visit to the district by a Central team led by the Union Agriculture and Cooperation Secretary, Dilip Rath.
Interacting with the visiting officials, a farmer of Chandel Christian village, L Tohring said she has been required to transplant the paddy thrice during the last three months due to scarcity of monsoon rains.
She said, the transplantation of the one hectare agricultural land�which her family owns�was done once on May 14.But due to lack of monsoon rains, she had to perform the transplantation thrice including the one done on August 4 .
Even as she had transplanted the paddy thrice, she is not hopeful of a usual harvest, keep aside bountiful harvest.
She said the pest had begun to ruin the newly planted paddy.
Inadequate amount of water is also another worry.
Ritha (26), wife of Warngam of Chandel Christian village, another farmer whom the visiting officials talked to, said she has already spent around Rs 30,000 in farming her agriculture land.
She said she transplanted the paddy thrice this year.
"We are transplanting the paddy not with the hope of bumper harvest.
But we are forced to do so nominally though," she said.
All agriculture land owners of Chandel Christian village have shared their view in the same vein.
Evidently, there has not been parched agricultural land in the district, but the coming of monsoon was a bit late, the farmers felt.