The Hindu Business Line : Poor rainfall threatens kharif sowing in AP

Hyderabad, July 10 After enjoying a dream run with bountiful rainfall for four successive years, farmers in Andhra Pradesh are a worried lot this kharif season as they face shortage of rainfall, power and poor inflows into the reservoirs.

Half of the 22 districts (putting the Hyderabad district aside) reported rainfall (102.1 mm) by July 9, far below the State average of 154.6 mm. The worst hit are Prakasam, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, Medak and Mahboobngar districts, where the rainfall is 60-99 per cent less than the average.

Other districts such as Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Anantapur, Chittoor, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Rangareddy and Nalgonda districts reported a shortfall of 20-60 per cent.

While admitting the delays in sowing activity, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, said it was not the end. “For paddy, we still have time till August 15. For other crops such as cotton and soya, we have time till the month-end,” he said.

Quoting weathermen, he said there was a possibility of good rains, if not copious, in the next seven to ten days. “There is no panic-like situation,” he said.

Ministers of agriculture, major irrigation and power held a meeting with officials and scientists to discuss the kharif season and the problems arising out of the failed monsoon.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr Raghuveera Reddy said that the Government had asked the officials to get ready with seeds for short-duration crops, in case the rains were further delayed.

Citing a similar condition in the kharif season of 2006, he said: though late, the State received had good rainfall that year, bailing out the farmers.

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