Rain deficit casts shadow over paddy yield in Assam

Time of India

a day ago

Guwahati: Farmers in Assam are sounding the alarm over a worrying rainfall shortage that has gripped more than half of the state's districts this July. The insufficient precipitation is casting a shadow over winter paddy cultivation, especially in the lower Assam region, where farmland preparation has taken a hit.
Scientists warn that if the dry spell continues, it could spell disaster for crop yields and productivity.
While rice seedling transplantation kicked off in various parts of Assam in July, the upper Assam region enjoyed normal or even excess rainfall, according to IMD records. However, the situation is dire in lower Assam, where many districts are parched. This July, 15 districts, including Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), and others, experienced 'large deficient' rainfall, as per IMD data.
Eleven of these districts are in lower Assam.
Meanwhile, Nagaon, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Dima Hasao recorded 'deficient' rainfall.
The IMD classifies 'large deficient' rainfall as 60 to 99% below normal, while 'deficient' rainfall is 20 to 59% below normal. "Photosensitive varieties like Ranjit, Bahadur, and many local paddy varieties will suffer if the rainfall deficit forces delayed transplantation of rice seedlings.
Delayed transplantation, after August 15, leads to low production because flowering may not occur due to reduced daylight after September," said senior scientist Dr Kanchan Saikia, in-charge head at RRLRRS, ICAR-CRRI, Gerua in Hajo.
Paddy cultivation thrives on consistent water availability from sowing to flowering. "Most farmers in the state rely on rainfed conditions for paddy. In recent years, the kharif season rainfall was adequate for paddy cultivation.
However, excess rainwater often drains away due to a lack of proper rainwater harvesting structures. A rainfall deficit will hinder crop growth, necessitating alternative water supply through irrigation to achieve projected yields," Saikia said.
He added that varieties like CR Dhan 801 and CR Dhan 802 show drought resistance, but irrigation at critical stages remains essential. "The Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method, which alternates drying and wetting in paddy fields, requires less water," he said.
IMD's July rainfall data reveals over a 70% deficit in many districts still waiting for transplantation.
Karna Rabha, a small-scale farmer in Boko, Kamrup district, owns six bighas of land. Three bighas of his land and about 55 bighas of neighboring villagers' land remain unplanted due to the lack of water in the paddy fields. "The rice seedlings we have will be unusable after 15 days as they will become too old. If we don't get heavy rain in the next two weeks, many farmers will have no seedlings to plant," he lamented.
Many areas in Assam lack irrigation infrastructure, leaving farmers at the mercy of the rain. The state's irrigation coverage extends to less than 20% of its cultivable land.