Colva/Canacona: A prolonged dry spell and a sharp rainfall deficit have cast a shadow over the paddy season across the state, with farmers fearing heavy crop losses if the southwest monsoon fails to revive soon. Agricultural activities in several villages of South Goa have virtually come to a standstill. Farmers, who would normally be busy transplanting paddy seedlings at this time of the year, are holding back due to inadequate rainfall.According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Goa and other states along the west coast recorded a staggering 71% rainfall deficit till June 20, raising concerns over the fate of kharif cultivation.“This is the period when transplanting should be in full swing, but delayed rains have made farmers hesitant,” said Blair Rodrigues, president of the Carmona Farmers’ Club. He noted that the erratic and uneven rainfall pattern has left cultivators anxious and forced many to postpone sowing activities.The situation is equally grim in Betalbatim, where around 25 to 30 farmers, associated with the Betalbatim Tenants’ Association, have already prepared and cultivated their fields. “If it does not rain within the next week, the crops will begin to wither,” warned association president Jerman Falcao.Some farmers in different pockets of Canacona had begun preparing the fields , but now they regret ploughing the land for kharif crops, said Krishna Velip of Shristhal.With reservoir levels also dipping, the dry spell has emerged as a concern not only for farmers but also for water management authorities. Falcao said members of the association have been pumping water from ponds for the past three days to sustain their crops, but water levels have already started receding. “The current soil moisture can support the crop for now, but continued rainfall deficiency could severely impact irrigation,” he said.In Canacona, farmers had planted chillies and various vegetable crops in the first week of June. However, due to the lack of rain, they are currently forced to fetch water from distant sources to keep the crops alive, said Jyotsna Velip from Cotigao.Rodrigues, who cultivates nearly 14,000sqm using mechanised farming techniques, said his crop has so far survived because mechanised transplanting places saplings deeper into the soil. “However, if there is no substantial rainfall over the next 15 days, even these crops may not survive,” he cautioned.The mounting rainfall deficit has heightened fears of agricultural distress, with farmers already investing over Rs 12,000 each to sow seeds across approximately 1,750sqm.
Crops transplanted using mechanised farming techniques, have so far survived because they are placed deeper into the soil, but if there is no rain in the next 15 days, these crops may not survive, said a farmer
