Mangaluru: A sullia farmer who has reconstructed rainfall manually over the past four decades has expressed concern about changes in the rainfall patterns in recent years.
Since 1976, Pataje Govindayya Sathyanarayana Prasad, 63, a farmer from Balila in Bellare, about 85 kilometers from here, has tracked rainfall in his backyard.
The area received 165 days of rain every year, but so far this year, the region has received 177 rainy days, and is likely to cross 200 days at the end of the year.
Depression that has been formed in Bengal Bay can bring rain to the region for the next few days.
The area witnessed 200 rainy days in 1978.
Rainfall has also been recorded every month from March 2020 to November this year, which did not happen before, he said.
Every day, farmers broadcast rainfall details for their villages on the Facebook page and whatsapp groups, as well as rainfall statistics and zodiac signs.
Since 1976, he has not missed a day of rain recording from 8am to 8 am (24 hours) and has served as an inspiration for many people.
Rainwater is collected in a glass jar located safely on a three-foot base.
In Sutia, Putture, Kadah, Karkala, Belthangady, and Udupi, there are currently around 50 people who record rain in the traditional way.
The aim is to get at least 100 more people to record rainfall in their backyard.
The region received an average of 4,500 mm of rainfall every year, with this year’s total expected to exceed 5,000 mm.
“Also, in general, if we have abundant rainfall for three consecutive years, the fourth year is expected to get less rainfall.
However, in recent years, we have seen changes in this pattern, with increased rainfall.
If At least three people document rainfall in a village, we will be able to understand the right pattern, “he said.
The destruction of Western Ghats and El Nina Effects, according to Prasad, must be blamed for changes in rainfall patterns and climate change.
Agricultural activities will be affected because of this, and the quality of arecanuts, he added.