Hrusikesh MohantyBerhampur: At a time the farmers in northern districts are grappling with the crop loss due to the floods multiple times owing to excess rainfalls, farmers in Ganjam, the southern Odisha district are worried over the deficit rainfall. The Kharif operation in several blocks is reportedly hit in the district for deficit monsoon rainsThe acreage of paddy crops, including broadcasting and transplantation, have been completed in 1.61 lakh hectares out of the total target of 2.16 lakh hectares ( around 74%) during this kharif till last Saturday.The coverage transplantation during last year during the same period was 90.18% due to good monsoon rains, official sources saidGanjam has recorded excess rainfall of 38% and 55 % in April and May, respectively, while deficit rains recorded in June (43%), July (5%) and till Aug 20 (3%)-the crucial months for kharif operation, sources said.The worst affected blocks in the district are recorded the deficit rainfall in Aug are included Purushottampur (91%), Jagannath Prasad (57%, Digapahandi (52%.), Khallikote (35%), Rangelunda (45%), Bhanjanagar (14%)Chikiti, Aska, Patrapur, Dharakote, Kabisurya Nagar and Sheragada blocks however recorded excess rains in August, sources said “As against the normal rainfall of 168. 06 mm in Aug, it recorded an average rainfall of 162.84 mm till Aug 20, recording a deficit of 3%.The transplantation of paddy could not take place in several hectares due to deficit rainfall this year, said Niranjan Mohanty, a farmer in Balipada in Kukudakhandi block. During this period, last year, he had completed the transplantation. Sudhir Sabat of Purushottampur also said the same. “We are waiting for the rain to complete the transplant by August end” said Sabat.Sujit Kumar Nath, a senior scientist in Krushi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ganjam said the transplantation in Ganjam district generally continued till the third week of Sept. During the period, the district is expected to get more rains, which will fill up the deficit and help the farmers to complete transplantation, he said. In several areas the transplantation was also going on in full swing due to release of water from water reservoirs, he added. (EON)Rainfall Report in Ganjam districtApril May June July August 20Normal 34.8 mm 82.6 mm 168.7 mm 236.8 mm 168.06 mmAverage 48.16 mm 127.68 mm 96.48% 225.4 mm 162.84 mmDeviation +38% + 55% – 43% -5% -3%