Farming in full swing in AP, T’gana

After nearly three years, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been receiving copious rains and agricultural operations are on in full swing. While Andhra Pradesh has reported ‘excess’ rainfall so far, several Telangana districts registered either normal or above normal rainfall.

Cotton has gained the most, followed by paddy and groundnut, bringing cheer to farmers that suffered three successive failed seasons.

As a result of excess rain in 10 districts, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have completed sowing on 5.62 lakh hectares (lh), about 50 per cent more than the average as-on-date acreage of 3.88 lh.

“Cotton sowing has been completed on about 88,000 hectares as against 71,000 ha (as on date). Paddy sowing has covered 45,000 ha (41,000 ha) so far. We expect the trend to continue keeping in view the prediction of good monsoon this time,” a top official of the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Department told BusinessLine.

Of the total average cropped area of 41 lh in Andhra Pradesh, farmers grow paddy on 16 lh, groundnut on 9.30 lh and cotton on 6.41 lh.

Though they started relatively late due to the delayed rains, agricultural operations in Telangana, too, have picked up momentum. The predominantly rain-fed State has received widespread precipitation in the last few days. However, official figures for rainfall and its spread are yet to be released.

As per the available numbers, cotton sowing showed some sluggishness as farmers completed sowing on only 2.84 lh against the average as-on-date area of 5.74 lh.

The State had earlier asked farmers not to grow cotton and to consider other options such as maize and soya.

In a normal year, the State grows cotton on 17 lh. This, however, was hit severely in the last two years due to a severe drought. The seed companies, however, feel that there won’t be any reduction in the area. “As we see, we are going to have good rains and farmers will go for cotton,” said a top executive at a seed company, seeking anonymity.

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