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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, NOV 18: It is a subdued celebration but a celebration nevertheless. As the country registered a fairly decent monsoon this year, the rain gods have a definite half-smile if not a full one. And as the country gears up for the winter, meteorological officials hazard a guess that the rabi crop will also look ship shape.
“The rabi crop depends on the monsoon every year and the moisture that is left in the soil after they have passed,” says S K Saha, director, AGRIMET (Agricultural Meteorology) at the Indian Meteorological department, Pune, but is cautious enough to hold back a definitive picture. “There are a whole number of factors and a better guess can be taken three months from now, but all indications are favourable considering there were good rains this year.”
The post monsoon analysis has shown a four per cent drop in the normal rainfall as compared to last year, but Meteorological officials say that it is a negligible decline. “Most reports coming in say that the rice yieldhas been very good this year,” says Saha.
Good news for farmers across the country, especially Tamil Nadu, Eastern Kerela, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. This is the region that gets 60 per cent of its rainfall in the winter months as the rains retreat from the peninsula. After the harvesting of the Kharif crop, this is the rainfall that farmers will be banking on for a good and healthy yield.
Timing is of the essence says Saha: “The rainfall has to be right and adequate just before the crop goes into its reproductive phase.” If that happens, the farmers have a lot to smile about with this year’s yield.
