Haryana: Rain deficit in paddy belt in July, farmers anxious
A fresh spell of widespread rainfall across Haryana on Thursday brought much-needed relief from the harsh hot and humid weather that has gripped the region. It also brought cheer to the faces of farmers.
As per the data of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the average maximum temperature in the state dropped by 0.2°C from Wednesday and currently stands 4.5°C below the normal. The highest temperature was recorded in Palwal at 32°C.
Agriculture experts welcomed the rainfall as timely for bajra and cotton-growing regions, but expressed concern for the paddy belt of the state, which has experienced significantly deficient rainfall throughout July.
Dr Virender Lather, former principal scientist of IARI New Delhi, said, “Rainfall in July helped bajra and cotton-growing districts like Mahendragarh, Narnaul, Charkhi Dadri, Hisar and Sirsa which had recorded good rainfall. Paddy-growing areas like Karnal, Kaithal and others received below normal rainfall, which is a cause for concern.”
As per the data of the IMD for July (till 8 am on July 31), Karnal recorded only 13.2 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with the monthly total standing at 101.5 mm, much below the normal of 183 mm. Ambala has recorded a total of 126.4 mm in July, while the normal rainfall is 293mm in this month.
Other areas like Jind and Kaithal also reported below-normal rainfall for July with Jind getting 91.4 mm against a normal rainfall of 133 mm and Kaithal reaching 100.4 mm compared to its normal rainfall in July of 125.3 mm.
In Rohtak, the district recorded 35.2 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, raising its monthly total to 274.8 mm—far exceeding the July average of 163.2 mm. Panipat also saw a strong spell with 29.6 mm, taking its total to 155.4 mm, which is slightly above the normal of this month which is 147.3 mm.
Charkhi Dadri received 17.3 mm of rainfall, taking its total rainfall for July to an impressive 313.7 mm, while its normal rainfall is 124 mm. Similarly, Mahendragarh recorded 34 mm of rain on Thursday, pushing its monthly total to a whopping 401.2 mm, almost three times its July average of 143 mm.
Nuh too recorded an increase in rainfall, with 26.8 mm recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the monthly total to 329.2 mm against a normal of 151.8 mm. Faridabad, Gurugram, Palwal, Rohtak and Hisar also reported rainfall significantly above or close to the monthly average.
In other districts, Yamunanagar reached a total of 208.6 mm for the month and still below the normal of 323 mm, while Sirsa crossed its average slightly, recording 90.1 mm against a normal of 87.3 mm.
Farmers said that the less rainfall has increased the dependency on groundwater. “If the deficit continues in August as well, we will have no option but to rely on groundwater for irrigation adding to production costs and depleting water tables,” said Vikas, a farmer.
The IMD has forecast more rainfall across Haryana in the coming days, which could help bridge the deficit in paddy-growing districts.
Haryana Tribune