Farming community is a worried lot now over the withering of their crops following deficit rainfall during last few weeks in various parts of Karimnagar district in spite of onset of monsoon.
With the arrival of early monsoon, which had rekindled hopes among the farming community, they expected good crops. Their dreams were shattered due to deficit rainfall and prevailing dry weather conditions.
Following the prevailing dry weather conditions, the area of cultivation has also declined considerably in the district. Area under even the rainfed maize, greengram, cotton and other crops also declined.
The area under paddy cultivation had also come down considerably for the same reason. Expecting bountiful rainfall, the farmers who have taken up paddy cultivation are finding their nurseries withering slowly.
In 2017 khariff season, cultivation was taken up in 1,10,179 hectares against the normal area of 1,06,409 hectares.
During this khariff season, the area of cultivation did not cross 84,596 hectares. Against normal area of cultivation of paddy in 37,790 hectares, this time it was only 25,485 hectares (67%). Maize was cultivated in 7,415 hectares (54%) against 13,753 hectares. Cotton was cultivated only in 50,499 hectares (95%) against the normal area of in 53,080 hectares.
Against the normal rainfall of 382.3 mm till July-end, the district recorded only 379.8 mm.
Five mandals viz. Gangadhara, Ramadugu, Karimnagar rural, Choppadandi and Ganneruvaram have reported deficit rainfall. The normal rainfall was reported in Karimnagar, Manakondur, Thimmapur, Saidapur, Kesavapatnam, Jammikunta, Huzurabad and Illandakunta. Only three mandals Veenavanka, Choppadandi and Chigurumamidi reported excess rainfall.
A farmer Tirupathi of Veenavanka mandal said his cotton crop, which is at germination stage, had started withering due dry weather. He was trying to protect the crop by watering it by carrying water in buckets and pots.
“I am watering the crop with a hope that the rains would protect the crops in the coming days. If the crop fails with drought, I would be forced into debt trap”, he complained.
Rythu Ikya Vedika district president Muduganti Venkat Reddy said the several paddy nurseries in various parts of the district were not planted due to deficit rainfall.
“Now, if the rains come it is of no use for the paddy cultivation”, he said and urged the government to declare crop holiday and provide compensation of ₹25,000 per acre to the farmers.