14% deficient rainfall caused drought in Odisha

Besides 14% rain deficiency, Odisha experienced crop loss above 33% in over 5.23 lakh hectare of cultivated land

Odisha this monsoon received 14% deficit rainfall leading to a drought situation and crop loss above 33% in over 5.23 lakh hectare of cultivated land in the state.

Officials said the state usually receives 1,144.3 mm of rainfall during monsoon starting from June to September but this year the precipitation was only 1,031 mm.

The highest deficient rainfall of 21.8% was experienced in 2009, while in 2014 it was 11.9%, in 2012 it was 7.1% and in 2008 it was 1.7%.

The drought this time was caused due to erratic rainfall in many districts. The irregular rainfall started from June and all districts except Balasore, Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Gajpati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Subernapur received deficient rainfall.

In July, the districts except Balasore, Bhadrak, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj and Sundergharh received deficient rainfall.

While all the 30 districts received deficient rainfall in August, only five - Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kandhamal and Jajpur districts got normal rainfall in September before the south-west monsoon finally withdrew from the state on October 18, agriculture department officials said.

According to the MeT office, Odisha gets adequate rainfall through 8 to 10 low pressures in the Bay of Bengal during June to September. This time, however, there were only six low pressures which had been weak and unable to produce much rainfall across the state.

The state government has declared 123 blocks spread over 14 districts as affected.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also announced a Rs 1,000 crore drought package to tackle the situation in the backdrop of alleged farmer suicides due to loan burden in the wake of crop loss.