HYDERABAD: Despite the state government making efforts to discourage paddy cultivation on a large-scale, farmers have taken up the cultivation of the staple in a big way in the beginning of ‘vaanakalam’ (monsoon) crop season.
The state government has come out with a new regulated cropping pattern policy as part of which it suggests farmers the variety of crops to be grown. The objective is to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce and do not incur losses.
However, as on date, the sowing operations for paddy crops have exceeded last year’s sown area. For example, paddy sowing was taken up in only 6,000 acres by mid-July last year in Nizamabad district, but it has crossed two lakh acres this rainy season.
In a majority of the districts, paddy sowing operations have exceeded last year’s sown area for the corresponding period between June 1 and July 15. Officials said good rains with excess rainfall in 22 districts and normal rainfall in 10 other districts resulted in sowing operations being in full swing.
Officials said paddy is a water-intensive crop. Good rains have also recharged groundwater levels and the availability of water from irrigation projects among other factors encouraged farmers to go for paddy in the beginning of the vaanakalam crop season.
“It’s a long way to go for the sowing operations to be completed. The target is to restrict paddy cultivation to about 40 lakh acres during this season (vaanakalam). As on July 15, paddy sowing was taken up in 6.42 lakh acres only, although it is much higher than 1.66 lakh acres, which is last year’s sown area for corresponding period,” an official said.
“By the end of sowing operations, a clear picture would emerge on paddy cultivation taken up in the extent of land in the state,” the official added.
The state government has come out with a new regulated cropping pattern policy as part of which it suggests farmers the variety of crops to be grown. The objective is to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices for their agricultural produce and do not incur losses.
However, as on date, the sowing operations for paddy crops have exceeded last year’s sown area. For example, paddy sowing was taken up in only 6,000 acres by mid-July last year in Nizamabad district, but it has crossed two lakh acres this rainy season.
In a majority of the districts, paddy sowing operations have exceeded last year’s sown area for the corresponding period between June 1 and July 15. Officials said good rains with excess rainfall in 22 districts and normal rainfall in 10 other districts resulted in sowing operations being in full swing.
Officials said paddy is a water-intensive crop. Good rains have also recharged groundwater levels and the availability of water from irrigation projects among other factors encouraged farmers to go for paddy in the beginning of the vaanakalam crop season.
“It’s a long way to go for the sowing operations to be completed. The target is to restrict paddy cultivation to about 40 lakh acres during this season (vaanakalam). As on July 15, paddy sowing was taken up in 6.42 lakh acres only, although it is much higher than 1.66 lakh acres, which is last year’s sown area for corresponding period,” an official said.
“By the end of sowing operations, a clear picture would emerge on paddy cultivation taken up in the extent of land in the state,” the official added.
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