With rain lashing Odisha's Koraput since Tuesday night, there is a possibility of drought like condition easing out.
Paddy and non-paddy crops in agriculture fields had dried up because of scanty rainfall in July and the first week of August.
"The district was staring at the spectre of a possible drought and the rain washed away that fear. For things to improve, it has to rain continuously for the next few days," said deputy director of agriculture, Koraput, Kalidas Biswas.
Against the normal rainfall of 393.06 mm in August, the district had received 78 mm till Tuesday, he said.
The agriculture department had targeted to grow paddy on 99.267 hectare in the district this kharif season. But only 62,991 hectare has been covered so far.
"Around 25 percent of the total area covered under paddy has dried up, owing to scanty rainfall in July," said Biswas. The district recorded 122.91 mm rainfall in July against a normal of 375.6.
While Jeypore, Borigumma and Kotpad blocks in the district are being covered under Upper Kolab Irrigation Project, farmers in the remaining 11 blcoks depend on monsoon and perennial water sources for irrigating their land.
The agriculture officer said the department had prepared a contingency plan for the farmers to tide over the scarcity.
"We have stocked seeds of short-duration paddy and non-paddy crops like green and black gram and these will be supplied to the farmers," he said.
The rain also helped the forest department to resume its plantation drive. "We can start planting saplings as the soil has become wet and ponds in the forests too are filled up with rainwater," said assistant conservator of forests, Koraput, Laxmi Kanta Udgata.
