Delta ryots favour long-duration paddy

Cultivation of short duration paddy crop is avoided by a majority of the farmers in the Krishna Basin in Andhra Pradesh so that cyclones do not affect the follow-up sequence crop. Besides, it is not viable owing to peculiar climatic and soil conditions, particularly during the kharif season.

This was stated by witness for AP P.V. Satyanarayana, an agriculture scientist who is also Director of AP Rice Research Institute, before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal hearing the issue of sharing of Krishna waters by AP and Telangana at New Delhi on Tuesday. He was probed by senior counsels for Telangana C.S. Vaidyanathan and V. Ravinder Rao as part of his cross examination on cropping patterns and soil and climatic conditions in the Krishna Basin areas.

On being asked about the recommendation of the National Disaster Management Authority for cultivation of short duration and short height paddy crop in AP as part of its guidelines in respect of management of cyclones, Mr. Satyanarayana said he would have to verify it. He was asked the question after eliciting information about incidence of cyclones during October-November.

Asked whether it is the long duration paddy crop that is affected by cyclones in November and the short duration crop is not impacted by the phenomenon, the AP’s witness denied the suggestion and stated that the farmers have evolved cultivating long duration paddy in Krishna Delta due to the adverse effect of cyclones and heavy rains up to November third week.

He admitted that temperature would have effect on the grain filling in paddy but denied the argument of the senior counsel Mr. Vaidyanathan that the drop in temperature by about 1.5 degree to 2 degree Celsius during October-November in Krishna Delta would impact the paddy production there.

He sought to verify the relevant document when the counsel for Telangana stated that drop in temperature by one degree would result in reduction in yield to an extent of 654 kg per hectare. Telangana’s counsel that reduction of 30 days in the length of crop growing period (LGP) would result in saving almost 6 tmc ft water per every one lakh acres paddy cultivation., the AP’s witness admitted that water requirement for short duration paddy with 120 days to 125 days LGP would be comparatively less against long duration paddy with 145 days to 150 days LGP.