AGRA: Farmers of Agra region are facing considerable problems, with the window for planting bajra (pearl millet) crop for the kharif season ending. With rainfall lower than required in the area, nearly half the area on which the crop is cultivated is still lying fallow. Farmers said that even if the volume of rain increases in the weeks to come, it might be too late for the crop this year.Bajra is the major kharif crop of the district, cultivated on around 1.15 lakh hectares. At present, more than 50,000 hectares are still unsown because the area has received lower rainfall than needed. Sowing for the entire acreage should have been completed by July 15, but in Shamsabad, Fatehpur Sikri, Fatehabad, Kirali, Bah and Pinahat blocks, thousands of hectares are lying fallow, with farmers unwilling to risk what they fear will be a lost crop."In July, many farmers sowed bajra according to the annual schedule but with lower than expected rainfall, and no arrangement for proper irrigation facilities, the remaining farmers do not want to sow the crop," said farmer Harshvardhan Singh of Bichpuri block.According to an agriculture department report, till July 15 bajra had been sowed in 65,000 hectares out of the expected 1.15 lakh. However, the farmers suggested that the department's expectations were unreasonable. Due to lack of water, the seeds are not developing into plants in those parts where there were sown, they said.Shivraj Singh, a farmer from Pinahat block said, "I sowed bajra in June but because rainfall was low, the seeds did not sprout. Earlier this month I sowed the crop again, but rainfall has not taken place. If this continues for a few more days, I do not know how I will manage."The situation of paddy crop is even worse. 4,872 hectares of farm land in the district has been identified for paddy cultivation. However, till July 15, paddy crop was sown on only 1,984 hectares. Paddy crop needs more water compared to bajra.Both bajra and paddy crop in the district are highly dependent on rainfall or, in its absence, irrigation. However, the canals continue to be dry. All plans of the irrigation department have allegedly failed to ensure availability of water in canals.Agra agriculture officer Ram Pravesh Sharma said, "Monsoon has been weak over the district so far. We have started working on an emergency plan to tackle a situation of drought. Farmers who have already sown bajra and paddy are advised to ensure minimum irrigation at frequent intervals to save the crop from drying."Unlike an actual drought, which occurs when there is no rainfall, a situation of technical drought occurs when rainfall is not adequate for agricultural and other purposes.Bhagwan Das, a farmer from Runkata said, "Low rainfall will, in all likelihood, cause major financial losses to farmers this time. Scarcity of fodder is also a big problem for those who have livestock. The government should at least help in providing better irrigation facilities."

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