Deficit rainfall in June had little impact on agriculture activities in NTR district., sowing operations pick up pace

The delayed and deficit rainfall has not had any major impact on agricultural activities in NTR district, where deficient rainfall from June 1 till date stands at 16.4%.

Though Southwest Monsoon arrived in the State on May 26, eight days ahead than its normal date, the rainfall has been patchy since then. Out of 26 districts, 11 have recorded normal rainfall between June 1 and July 7 and 14 have reported deficient rainfall during this period. Only one district, Eluru, has recorded excess rainfall, according to information available on the A.P. State Disaster and Planning Society.

In NTR district, which recorded 125.2 mm rainfall as against the normal of 149.7 mm during this period, agricultural activities have picked up pace in the past two weeks after a slight delay.

The normal area under cultivation in the district is 94,931 hectares. So far, sowing has been completed in 24,405 hectares during the Kharif season, according to information from the office of District Agricultural Officer. Out of the total area where sowing has been completed so far this Kharif season, cotton accounts for the maximum of 19,099 hectares, followed by paddy in 2,001 hectares, pulses in 1,645 hectares and maize in 1,635 hectares.

Surprisingly, this year, despite deficit rainfall, the sown area till July 7 is way higher than the usual area that is sown as on date. The reason is the pre-monsoon showers in May.

“This year, the pre-monsoon showers received by the district in May is the highest in the past four-five years. The showers prompted many farmers, especially cotton, to start sowing operations. Last year, by July first week, sowing had begun in 17,225 hectares,” said NTR District Agricultural Officer Vijaya Kumari.

Not just cotton, but maize, paddy, black gram were also sowed in more than the normal area this year, thanks to the pre-monsoon showers. Sugarcane is sown in 18 hectares this season so far, as against the 3 hectares last year.

Thankfully, the minimal rainfall activity in June has not affected the crops much, said All India Kisan Sabha NTR district general secretary P.V. Anjaneyulu. “Presently, all the lakes in the district are full. But, farmers in the mandals of Nandigama, Kanchikacherla, Chandarlapadu, which do not have major lakes, are facing some problems. In these areas, they depend on borewells for irrigation. If it does not rain much in the next ten days, then their problems will increase,” he said.