The tail-end Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, with low paddy yields for the last three years due to drought, is all set to embrace micro-irrigation for paddy cultivation in vast stretches by the next kharif season. At present, demonstrations at three places in the district have given fruitful results, preparing the ground for increased acreage.
Chittoor district has a regular acreage of about 60,000 hectares for paddy cultivation, 70% being in the eastern mandals, and small patches in the western mandals, with concentration in Kuppam and Palamaner. Compared to groundnut and mango farming, paddy cultivation is a small.
Moreover, in the last two decades, paddy cultivation went down with drying up of many water resources with recurring drought conditions. This had led to drying up of some the rivers like Pincha, Palar, Bahuda and Swarnamukhi, in spate only during cyclone-induced rains.
Preparing the ground
After a three-year-long research by the AP Micro Irrigation Project, demonstrations were conducted at select locations in western and eastern mandals, giving satisfactory results.
Though States such as Maharasthra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka took up micro-irrigation to raise sugar cane with 200% more yields compared to conventional farming, the same could not be implemented in the case of paddy. In Andhra Pradesh too, micro-irrigation is limited to groundnut and sugar cane arenas. Considering this, Chittoor district is all set to pioneer and prepare the ground for paddy cultivation through micro-irrigation, from stage demonstration to actual cultivation. According to AP Mirco Irrigation Project Project Director (Chittoor) Vidya Shankar, micro-irrigation methods would boost paddy cultivation not only in eastern mandals, but in western mandals too. “If everything goes well, we can expect an overwhelming response from the farmers in the next one year,” he said.
Higher yield
“At present, paddy is sown mostly in and around Srikalahasti depending on irrigation waters from Telugu Ganga. Though there is no incidence of farmers suffering losses due to paddy cultivation, non-availability of water makes them stay away from the field. Micro-irrigation, through drip and sprinklers, has proved that yields could be 15 to 25% higher. It will be a boon to farmers depending on borewells. During drought and fall in groundwater levels, paddy could be sustained with low consumption of water,” he said.
Awareness programme
In traditional farming, paddy requires three lakh litres per acre, while it would be less than half in micro-irrigation. “We are going to conduct a series of awareness programmes among paddy farmers all over the district throughout 2019. We are also involving the services of some agro-based private firms to accomplish the task,” Mr. Vidya Shankar said.