Heavy rains compensate deficiency partially in MP, but farmers’ worries continue

Heavy rainfall in many parts of the state over the past few days has partially improved the deficiency in Madhya Pradesh. However, farmers continue to worry as crops have been impacted due to the long gaps in monsoon, poor rainfall in many areas, and pest infestation.

At least 17 districts of the total 52, most of them in western and central Madhya Pradesh, are still significantly rain deficient and crops have been particularly impacted in these areas. Soybean, the major crop of Kharif season, is facing the dual impact of poor rains and tobacco caterpillar infestation.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and chief of Madhya Pradesh Congress Kamal Nath has written to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, directing his attention to the losses that farmers are expected to face, demanding an immediate survey and release of compensation within seven days.

In the letter, Nath mentioned that due to deficient rainfall and gaps in monsoon, crop losses are likely in districts like Khargone, Sehore, Vidisha, Dhar, Neemuch, Harda, and Hoshangabad. Tobacco caterpillar attack on soybean crops has added to the problems caused by deficient rain. The pest infestation is not getting controlled despite repeated spraying of pesticides, which also indicates adulterated and fake pesticides getting marketed, Nath said.

He added that farmers have been protesting demanding crop damage survey and compensation, but no positive action has been taken by the government.

The anger of farmers over the damage to crops may go on to become a poll issue if the state government does not take timely and adequate steps to compensate for the losses. The Congress has already started to raise the issue in many areas. Agar-Malwa MLA Vipin Wankhede had threatened to not let the Jan Ashirwad rally of BJP enter the district unless farmers’ issues were resolved.

Heavy rain spell continues

With monsoon circulation becoming active in the Bay of Bengal, rainfall started in many parts of the state from last week after a long gap spanning the second half of August and September first week.

A fresh spell is lashing the southern parts of the state at present and the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Bhopal, has predicted that the rainfall will continue till September 17. Intermittent rainfall is expected till September 26, senior scientist with RMC, Vedprakash Singh, told THE WEEK.

The rainfall over the past week has improved the deficiency situation in the state. In the beginning of September, the state was facing an overall deficiency of 16 per cent, with 26 of the 52 districts receiving over 20 per cent deficient rain. Nine of these districts, including Bhopal, were over 30 per cent deficient. The situation mainly developed because during the month of August, the state, on average, received as much as 40 per cent less rainfall than expected; with 28 districts reporting between 40 to 94 per cent of deficit.

However, over the past week, the state on average received about 144mm of rainfall – almost 86 per cent of the entire September quota, to bring the deficiency situation under control.

As on September 15, the average deficiency in Madhya Pradesh is at 10 per cent. From June 1, a total of 805.7mm rainfall has been received till now. The normal rainfall for the duration is 894.4mm. There is, however, a deficiency of over 20 per cent in 17 districts, including Bhopal. Though the continuing rain might further improve the deficiency situation and dams might get filled up to ensure water supply, crops might have already faced irreversible damage in several parts of the state.