With Mayurbhanj receiving severe deficit rainfall in the ongoing rainy season, the drought-like situation has become grim in the district.
Several acres of farmlands have developed cracks and most of the transplanted crops have weathered due to scanty rainfall. Moreover, most of the irrigation facilities have become defunct making the situation worse. With uncertainty over rainfall in the coming days and a possible drought situation looming large, farmers in Rairangpur block of the district are staring at a bleak future.
Take the case of Bhalubasa Panchayat in the block. Due to severe scarcity of rain, most of the transplanted paddy crops have weathered and the farmlands have developed cracks. With no hope for the revival of the crops due to uncertainty in rainfall, the farmers in the village have surrendered themselves before the fate.
“We don’t have any hope of producing paddy crop this year due to scarcity of rain. We have now surrendered ourselves before the fate,” said Harekrushna Behera, a farmer.
“We are totally dependent on agriculture as it is the only source of our livelihood. With a scarcity of rain, the drought situation is grim. We are now uncertain about our future. We are clueless on how to make a living and feed our children,” said Sudama Charana Kumbhakar.
Though there are irrigation facilities in the area, the canals are lying defunct as those are covered with weeds and garbage. As a result, the canals built in 1980 are of no use to the farmers in villages like Sunapasi, Naujoda, Musabani, Padadiha and Bholabeda.
Though the villagers are paying taxes to the government for providing irrigation facilities, they are deprived of availing it. They have requested the district administration to repair the canals several times. However, it has fallen on deaf ears.
“Though there are canals in our area, those are of no use. We are facing severe drought situation due to scarcity of rain and defunct canals,” said Sudhira Patra.
“People of as many as five villagers depend upon agriculture for their livelihood in the area. Though we have canals in our area, we are not getting water through it for the last 20 years. We have requested the district administration to repair the canals several times. However, they are not paying any attention towards our request,” said Bhubaneswar Dutta, another farmer.