Odisha Farmers Choose To Cultivate Oilseeds & Pulses on Abandoned Paddy Land

Due to the delayed monsoon’s impact on the cultivation of 4,500 hectares of rice fallow land in the rain-fed Sundargarh district (Odisha) during the current Kharif crop season, the affected farmers have begun to choose oil seeds and pulses during the pre-rabi season to makeup up for the loss. 

The affected farmers have been urged to cultivate pulses and oilseeds using the current soil moisture when the pre-rabi crop season begins in October.

According to sources, the district had deficient rainfall in June of 153.86 mm and 117.2 mm, respectively, as paddy farming activities, such as transplantation and intercultural operations, were delayed on a large scale, raising concerns about crop loss. But starting in the second week of August and throughout the month, the monsoon returned.

However, the monsoon returned in the second week of August, and the month saw 133.79 mm of excess rainfall compared to the district's average rainfall of 527.69 mm. This helped finish up unfinished business. Still, the district's 4,500 acres of fallow rice land were unable to be covered. But starting in the second week of August and throughout the month, the monsoon returned.

According to sources, impacted farmers have been encouraged to plant pre-rabi crops such as horse gram, lentils, Biri, moong, til, and nizer because the current soil moisture conditions are ideal for these plants.

A total of 1,99,500 ha of the 2.04 lakh ha that was scheduled for paddy cultivation during the current Kharif crop season might be covered as of the end of August. The aim has been met out of 1.09 lakh non-paddy crops scheduled for the Kharif season. Both the standing paddy and non-paddy crops, according to agricultural officials, are in good shape.