Chitrakoot's Farmers Told to Skip Paddy This Season as Drought Fears Loom

With below normal rainfall predicted in Chitrakoot this year, the agriculture department is urging farmers to swap paddy for low water crops like moong, jowar, bajra, kodo and ragi.

Water scarcity is nothing new for farmers in Chitrakoot district in Bundelkhand, but this year the outlook looks especially tough. The weather department has forecast below normal rainfall for the district, prompting the agriculture department to advise farmers against water intensive crops like paddy.

Why Paddy Could Turn Into A Losing Bet This Time
Every year, farmers in Chitrakoot struggle to arrange enough water for irrigation. This time too, weather forecasts point to rainfall staying below the average for the district. In such conditions, a crop like paddy, which needs a steady water supply to grow, could end up causing heavy losses for farmers. That is why the agriculture department is now visiting villages door to door, urging farmers to switch to crops that need less irrigation so that a rainfall shortfall does not hurt their yield.

From Moong To Ragi, The Alternative Crops On Offer
The agriculture department has recommended that farmers grow moong, arhar, jowar, bajra, kodo, sawa, ragi and kakun instead. All of these crops can be grown with limited water and are considered especially suited to low rainfall regions. Officials believe that adopting these crops will ease farmers' irrigation worries while also improving the outcome of their harvest.

El Nino Behind The Forecast, Says Official
J.L. Gupta, the Deputy Director of Agriculture in Chitrakoot, said that El Nino is expected to bring below normal rainfall to the district this year. He said Chitrakoot is already counted among the districts facing chronic water shortage, which makes it necessary to pick crops that can deliver good yields even with less water. According to him, crops such as jowar, bajra, kodo, ragi and kakun are ready with minimal irrigation, so farmers who switch to them will not suffer losses even if rainfall falls short, and their income will also hold up well.

Seeds Already Stocked, Farmers Can Buy Directly
Gupta added that the department's seed store already has all the necessary seeds, including moong, arhar, jowar, bajra, kodo, sawa, ragi and kakun. Farmers can walk in and purchase these seeds directly from the store. Agriculture department teams continue to tour villages to explain the benefits of this shift, so that farmers' crops and income remain protected even if the region sees a weak monsoon.

What this means for you
If you are connected to farming, this news has a direct bearing on your crop and your earnings.

• Across India: Farmers in other regions facing a below normal rainfall forecast can also avoid losses by switching from water heavy crops like paddy to millets.
• In Chitrakoot: Farmers can now buy moong, arhar, jowar, bajra, kodo, sawa, ragi and kakun seeds directly from the agriculture department's seed store, which could mean better yield and income even if rainfall stays low.

Questions & Answers

1. What is the rainfall forecast for Chitrakoot this year?
The weather department expects below normal rainfall in the district this year.

2. What crops is the agriculture department recommending instead of paddy?
Low water crops such as moong, arhar, jowar, bajra, kodo, sawa, ragi and kakun.

3. What is causing the below normal rainfall forecast?
Deputy Director of Agriculture J.L. Gupta said it is due to the effect of El Nino.

4. Who is advising farmers to make this switch?
Chitrakoot's Deputy Director of Agriculture J.L. Gupta and agriculture department teams are touring villages to advise farmers.

5. Where can farmers buy seeds for these alternative crops?
All the required seeds are available at the agriculture department's seed store, from where farmers can buy them directly.

6. What risk does paddy farming face this season?
With rainfall expected to fall short, paddy could suffer from inadequate irrigation and reduced yield.

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