Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 29: Agriculture in several parts of Goa is facing stress as rainfall remained below normal and prolonged dry spells continued through September, raising concerns among farmers over crop damage due to rising temperatures and inadequate soil moisture.

The Agriculture Department has directed its field officers to assess the ground situation and submit a report by the end of the month.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Goa recorded a 37 per cent rainfall deficit in September, while the cumulative deficit since June 1 stood at 32 per cent. The State did not receive more than an inch of rainfall on any single day in September, with several days remaining completely dry.

Director of Agriculture Chandrahas Desai said zonal officers had been instructed to inspect agricultural fields across the State and assess the impact of the weather conditions.

“So far, we have not received any complaints regarding crop damage either at the department or zonal office level. However, field inspections will help determine the actual extent of the damage,” Desai said.

He acknowledged that the prevailing weather conditions were not favourable for paddy cultivation.

The deficient rainfall, coupled with rising temperatures, has raised concerns over moisture stress and drying of plant roots. The IMD has issued a yellow alert, with officials hoping that rainfall over the next two to three days will provide some relief to farmers.

Agriculturist Nestor Rangel had earlier warned that deficient rainfall and prolonged dry spells could affect paddy production. He said the conditions could lead to a higher incidence of 'poll', a condition in which grains fail to fill properly, directly affecting crop yields.

Farmers have also raised concerns over paddy crops nearing maturity, saying the crop requires cooler conditions at this stage.

“After the crop has matured, it now urgently needs cooler weather. With temperatures rising, the situation is becoming difficult,” farmers said.

They said brief showers received two days ago provided some relief, but the absence of sustained rainfall had increased fears of crops drying up.

“The rains have not been frequent. This year, the loss is expected to be between 35 and 40 per cent,” farmers said.

According to IMD data, Goa received 2,055.4 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 26, against the normal 2,992.4 mm during the period.