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Widespread rains across the State have revived kharif hopes of farmers in Andhra Pradesh. Average rainfall, which used to be on the negative side for the last six weeks, has suddenly turned positive at 12 per cent this month.
Though the overall rainfall figures still showing a deficit of 19 per cent, spread of rains in the last few days would help farmers to begin sowings. Those who had sown, particularly in the rain-fed areas in Telangana, had to physically water the seedlings. In absence of proper rainfall, they had to plough the fields again, waiting for fresh bouts of showers.
“It gave us a fresh lease of life. If they didn't turn up, we would have lost the season that has a cut off date of July 15 for sowings. Though we have the option of sowing later, but it certainly would have a telling impact on yields,” Mr Appi Reddy, Convener of Telangana Sugarcane Farmers' Association, told Business Line.
“Those who have sown so far either lost the plants completely for lack of water or witnessed poor germination. They need to put in fresh investments on seeds and other inputs. But the most important thing is, they have good rains again,” he said.
Rainfall averages in districts such as Medak, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Rangareddy, Mahboobnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal looked up following the heavy rains this week.
Sowings of soybean and sugarcane were in the range of 75-100 per cent, while that of castor and cotton were in the 51-75 per cent bracket. The fact that sowing of paddy, sunflower, groundnut, onion and chillies were in the less than 25 per cent bracket showed how horrible the situation was till last week.
Reports reaching from some cotton growing districts pointed out at revival of crop. This, however, could create demand for more seed, with several hundred farmers reporting poor germination or stymied growth of plants.
“It might create an additional demand for at least 10 per cent of seeds. There is almost no seed available with companies now. They might have to source it from unbranded seeds,” a seed industry representative said.
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