Rains bring relief to Varanasi farmers

Varanasi, July 29 (ANI): Monsoon rains have brought much-needed respite to people in the drought-hit Varanasi. Farmers, who have been anxious about their crops following a prolonged dry spell in this monsoon season, are ecstatic in particular.

With the rainfall much below average, the Uttar Pradesh government had declared Varanasi a drought hit district, and advised farmers to sow coarse grains that require less water.

But as it has rained now, sowing has begun with vigour after a long wait. Paddy saplings are being sown in inundated fields.

"We are all very happy. Everyone was getting anxious regarding the rains. But as it has rained now, we can sow paddy," said Geeta Devi, a farmer.

Farmers tell that a few days earlier they had to pull out whatever they had sown due to the prevailing drought.

"Farmers have started the sowing work. We had lost all hopes of rains. We even had to pull out whatever we and sown earlier due to the lack of rain," said Dharmraj, another farmer.

This year country 's monsoon rains have been quit low. They revived in most parts of the country in July except in key grain-producing states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

In Uttar Pradesh's 47 drought-hit districts, the rainfall has been between 40 and 60 percent of the long-term average since the start of the monsoon season on June 1. (ANI)