Paddy fields in Phek village lie unattended as agricultural activities across various parts of Nagaland have been affected due to scanty rainfall.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 24
Scanty rainfall has affected the normal agricultural activities in Phek and adjoining areas. “Due to insufficient rainfall, the farmers are unable to carry out the normal activities of paddy cultivation at Phek,” said Thuputhiyi Venuh, Chief Coordinator Phek Farmers Club.
“Only 40 percent of the paddy cultivation has been completed in our village so far,” he said and expressed apprehension that if rain does not come early, the famers would suffer huge loss of the agricultural production.
Recently, the Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) Nagaland had sounded an alert to the Agri and allied departments in the State, highlighting the drought-like situation due to delayed and erratic rains.
It has also been reported that deficient rains affected 8,662 ha of jhum fields across Nagaland.
The Terraced Rice Cultivation (upland) and Wet Terraced Rice Cultivation have also been affected due to deficient monsoon rains in all the districts causing delay in land preparation and sowing.
The shortage of rainfall has not only affected the production of normal seasonal crops but it has also affected commercial crops like large cardamom, fruits and vegetables and other livestock such as fisheries, piggery etc, APC stated.
In the meantime, the Agri and Allied department is also planning to distribute seeds such as potato, oil seeds, vegetables for early Rabi season from the month of September and October to compensate the farmers for the anticipated loss.
