Half of AP kharif area hit by sluggish monsoon

Delayed monsoon has had an adverse impact on the kharif season in Andhra Pradesh. About half of the mandals in the State received deficient rainfall, resulting in sluggish sowings.

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao said at least 325 mandals in the State registered deficient rainfall this year, while 345 mandals managed to meet the averages.

According to the latest figures available, the State has received 244.6 mm of rain as against the average rain of 265.9 mm, showing a deficit of 8 per cent.

Contingency plan Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said the Government is ready with a contingency plan in case the situation continued. “The official machinery is ready with seeds for alternative crops and other required inputs,” he said.

Majority of the mandals that received deficient rainfall were in Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool districts.

Farmers could sow only in 17.53 lakh ha, about 4 lakh ha less than the area sown (as on date) last year.