Latest news with #AtalTiwari

Time of India

Incessant & excessive rain hampers kharif crop sowing in Gumla

1 2 Gumla: Incessant and excessive rainfall for the last 17 days in Gumla district and surrounding areas has hampered the cultivation of kharif crops like urad, arhar, mung and other pulses apart from delaying sowing of maize, groundnut and some vegetables, including tomato, gourd and bottlegourd. According to the figures available with the district agriculture department, a total rainfall of 525.1 mm has been recorded in Gumla from January to June 30 against an average rainfall of 287.37 mm during this period. Notably, June alone has received 351.8 mm of rainfall against this month's average of 205.3 mm. "During the last 17 days, continuous rains have stopped the tillers from preparing their plots to sow seeds. Against an identified area of 16,000 hectares for arhar, farmers could sow seeds only in 1,013 hectares, so far, while urad and mung farming has been negligible against their identified areas of 8,000 and 1,500 hectares respectively," said Ajit Kumar, an advisor to the agriculture department, here on Tuesday. Bishunpur-based Gumla Krishi Vigyan Kendra ( KVK) scientist Atal Tiwari said, "Farmers are not able to grow maize and groundnut on sufficient areas on time because of the heavy and incessant downpour currently in the district. Cultivation of tomato which is grown widely in the kharif season, gourd and bottlegourd has also been delayed by the rain in the region." However, the agriculture department figures showed a coverage area of 3,154 hectares for maize against a normal of 5,000 hectares and 4,943 hectares for urad against a normal of 8,100 hectares. Groundnut cultivation has been less so far. "If moisture is retained in the soil, germination of seeds will be badly affected leading to low yields," cautioned Kumar. Tiwari further said, "There will be 15%-20% less harvest this season because of the delayed crops caused by the rainfall." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!