Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Rupesh Samant

Panaji, Jul 3: Despite failed rains in the month of June, the farmers in the state expect a good time for paddy cultivation due to the God sent dry spells.

The state which saw arrival of monsoon in the first week of June also witnessed weak rains during the month. The Indian Meteorological Department has recorded that the monsoon deficit was to the tune of 11 per cent compared to last year in June.

“Goa received 803 mm of rainfall in the month of June as against 906 mm recorded in the same month last year. That amounts to a deficit of 11 per cent,” M L Sahu, director, Indian Met department said.

Sahu said the off-shore trough current was weak in the beginning of June and picked up only during the middle of the month. “The deficit is expected to be compensated in the months of July-August,” he said.

While less rainfall is considered as a concern for the farmers, state agriculture director Ulhas Pai Kakode said such a rainfall pattern with scattered rain helps the farmers in planting the paddy.

“There is no problem for the farmers considering the overall spread of the rain in the state. The farmers are happy when they have some dry spells which can be utilized to plant the paddy,” he said.

State agriculture department has targeted to cover 28,000 hectare area in the state under paddy cultivation, which is same as that of last year. “The farmers in Salcette, Bardez, Tiswadi have almost completed 50 per cent of their planting while it has just began in the talukas of Pernem and Bicholim,” he said.

The areas like Canacona, which are located in the southernmost tip of the state, will go for paddy planting little late, Kakode added.