Sept. 10: Better late than never for the drought-hit farmers of Dhubri district, driven to desperation by deficient rainfall.

Two days of heavy rain following a long dry spell has not only brought relief from the scorching heat, but also smiles back to the farmers’ faces. Sources in the district administration said the monsoon had “finally arrived” and the rains would continue for the next fortnight.

The much-awaited rainfall will enable farmers to begin sali cultivation, which had appeared a remote possibility till the rain gods smiled on the farmers on Thursday.

Dhubri received 11 mm and 26 mm of rainfall on Friday and Saturday, respectively. According to sources in the flood control department, all the five rivers criss-crossing the district will be in spate if the current trend continues.

Dhubri district agriculture office said 45,000 farmers have been badly affected by the 49 per cent deficit rainfall, which enabled sali plantation only on 15,000 hectares as against the 45,000 hectares covering the three sub-divisions of the district.

However, things are looking up.

Krisna Kanta Roy Pradhani, a farmer under the Golokganj development block said the delayed rainfall would enable the farmers to recover their losses once they plant the seedlings within the next two weeks.

With prospects of drought looming large, a large number of affected farmers had last month approached food and civil supply minister Nazrul Islam seeking immediate assistance to cope with the situation.

Dhubri district agriculture officer R.K. Bhattacharjee said scarcity of rainfall had affected sali plantation. “In order to assist the poor and marginal farmers in Dhubri district, 18,874 litres of diesel was distributed among 4,700 farmers’ families in three sub-divisions of Dhubri district free of cost. However, late rain from yesterday will benefit more than 45,000 farmers as they normally go for sali plantation till September 20,” Bhattacharjee said.

He went on to add, “ This is the only paddy left for the winter season and if it is affected by flood or any other reason like drought, they (farmers) will have to suffer a lot. So department took utmost care in selecting the beneficiaries so that small and marginal farmers are not deprived of diesel distributed totally free of cost.”

Dhubri district produces around 15,000 tonnes of rice annually. Before the rains struck, it was estimated that the production would hardly cross 5,000 tonnes.

RAIN METER

• Rainfall: 37 mm over Friday and Saturday?

• Average deficit till Thursday: 49 %

• Rivers: Orang, Tipkai, Gangadhar, Jinjiram and Champawati back to normal

• Number of farmers affected: Around 45,000