Assam is currently facing a drought-like scenario affecting nearly half of the state, with 16 out of 33 districts reporting a “significant deficiency” in rainfall. This situation has resulted in more than half of the kharif paddy cultivation area being impacted, as transplanted seedlings are failing due to insufficient rain, or farmers are unable to transplant them because of dry soil conditions. As of July 20, farmers are hurrying to transplant seedlings in an effort to salvage this year’s kharif paddy crop. The state government has acknowledged the situation as a “state-specific disaster” and has granted “in-principle approval” for providing compensation to the families affected, sourced from the State Disaster Relief Fund. The compensation amount will be Rs 17,000 per hectare for irrigated farming and Rs 8,500 per hectare for rain-fed farming. Community nurseries have been set up in all districts to replace the destroyed seedlings, and a drought advisory is currently being developed.
Assam experiencing severe monsoon rains, paddy farmers in the region become increasingly desperate
