Scanty rainfall affects 25-40 percent paddy crop in Jharkhand

Around 25 to 40 percent paddy crop has been damaged due to scanty rain, an official said on Saturday citing the Jharkhand government's initial report.

Jharkhand has more than 260 blocks and in 122 blocks the paddy crops have been damaged by over 40 percent. In some areas the damage is nearly 70 percent.

The state government had sought reports from the districts regarding the drought situation and crops damaged due to scanty rain. They have been submitted to the disaster management department.

"As per the district reports 25 to 40 percent paddy crops have been damaged due to scanty rainfall. In Ramgarh district the damage is nearly 70 percent," a disaster management official told IANS.

According to a central government report, around 15 districts have been partially affected due to drought, the official said.

There are discrepancies in the state government report prepared on the basis of the reports of the district administrations and the central government, the official added.

"Considering the discrepancies the district administrations have been asked to submit a second report after assessing the ground reports," said the official.

Jharkhand received good rainfall in July prompting farmers to sow paddy. Around 95 percent of the cultivable area were sown.

In August and September Jharkhand received 30 and 15 percent of the normal rainfall causing panic among the farmers.

A review meeting that took place early this month, decided to seek reports from the district administrations.