Panaji: Farmers across Goa are grappling with uncertainty as an extended break in monsoon rainfall has left agricultural fields parched at a crucial stage of the kharif season.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa received only 166mm of rainfall between June 1 and June 19 against the normal 573mm, resulting in a deficit of 71%. This is despite the timely onset of the southwest monsoon on June 5, this season.
"The situation is very bad," said Uday Prabhudesai, a farmer from Pernem. "The soil has become hard. Farmers are finding it difficult to continue their work. Those who have already sown crops are worried because without rain, the seedlings could dry up."
Nestor Rangel, who has a farm in Valpoi, said the lack of rainfall poses serious challenges for farmers dependent solely on rain-fed agriculture.
"Even the farmers who rely on mechanised service providers for paddy transplantation may face hurdles as many farmers schedule seed germination and transplantation in advance, and disruptions caused by dry conditions could force them to repeat the process, resulting in additional costs and labour," he added.
Assistant director of agriculture (agronomy), Shamal Prabhudesai, said farmers who had already germinated paddy seeds for transplantation are among the worst affected.
"Some farmers in coastal areas would normally begin transplanting at this stage because their seedlings are ready. But they cannot proceed because there is no water in the fields. In parts of Canacona, farmers who traditionally undertake cultivation later in the season are also unable to begin field preparation due to the absence of rainfall. Those who have not yet started cultivation will simply have to wait for rain. The fields are very dry and ploughing is difficult under present conditions," she said.
Prabhudesai advised farmers to consider short-duration paddy varieties if monsoon conditions continue to remain delayed. She said varieties such as Jyoti and Karjat may be more suitable under the circumstances than long-duration varieties like Jaya.
For now, however, farmers across Goa are closely watching the skies, hoping that the monsoon regains momentum before crop losses become widespread.
