El Nino may boost Rajma cultivation in North Andhra hills

Visakhapatnam: With the emergence of El Nino likely to threaten rainfed crops in the north Andhra region, agriculture sector experts hoped that possible below normal and uneven rainfall due to El Nino might boost Kidney beans popular as Rajma beans cultivation and yield in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) and Parvathipuram Manyam districts.

The experts said the Chintapalle White variety Rajma was more savoury in terms of flavour, and it was grown semi-organically in the ASR district.Rajma was raised in the hilly areas of Chintapalle, GK Veedhi, G Madugula, Paderu, Pedabayalu, Hukumpeta, Dumbriguda, Munchingiputtu and a few other mandals in ASR district and similarly in parts of the Manyam district. Many of the tribal farmers grow Chintapalli Red and Chintapalle White varieties of Rajma.Over the years, the area under Rajma cultivation in hilly areas in north Andhra Pradesh region has been increasing as it was turned into a profitable crop. The area under Rajma cultivation in ASR district was around 15,000 to 18,00 hectares and it may increase to around 25,000 to 28,000 hectares in the 2026 kharif season, the experts added.Rajma crop requires pre-sowing irrigation for better germination of the seed and critical stage for irrigation is around three weeks after sowing.

The Rajma crop does not require frequent irrigation in the rainy season as heavy rains and water logging would hit hard to the crop, said M Prasad, a farmer in ASR district. Sowing season of kidney beans commences from the first week of August, and the crop duration is around four months, he added.The Chintapalle White variety Rajma was more savoury in flavour and it was grown organically in ASR district. The average yield per acre was roughly 300 kilos of beans, for which the seed requirement was 20 to 30 kg.

The demand for the Chintapalle White variety Rajma was growing in parts of the state and in other states.The experts say that El Nino is the dominant influence on monsoon, so that the Monsoon rainfall is below normal in 2026. The below normal rainfall activity will help the Rajma cropsNearly 50 per cent of rajma consumed in parts of India came from other countries, as rajma production remained sensitive. Farmers in ASR district will get at least Rs130 to Rs150 per kg of Rajma depending on quality. The rajma crop remained sensitive, as more or very little rainfall damaged the crop.As most of the cultivation area was brought under organic cultivation in ASR district, traders from parts of the state procure Chintapalle white variety Rajma and supply it to parts of north India, said R Raju, a trader in Paderu locality.