Agriculture Department prepares action plan for kharif in East Godavari distirct

Rajamahendravaram: The Agriculture Department has devised an action plan for the successful completion of kharif season in the district which has already been commenced. As many as 2.70 lakh hectares will come under cultivation for various crops in this Kharif season.

Out of 2.70 lakh hectares, paddy will be cultivated in 2.26 lakh hectares, and other crops like cotton and maize will be cultivated in the remaining extents of lands. According to an official of Agriculture Department, 1,15,377 quintals of seeds are required for kharif season and at present about 40 quintals of seeds are ready and the remaining seeds will be made available in the first week of June.

With regard to fertilisers, 1,76,756 metric tonnes of fertilisers are needed and out of it, about 10,000 metric tonnes of urea, 12,000 metric tonnes of complex fertilisers, 4,500 metric tonnes of potash and 4,500 metric tonnes of super phosphate are available and the remaining quantities will arrive to the district in the first week of June.

The department has suggested the farmers not to limit themselves only to one or two varieties, but they have to cultivate different types paddy varieties. According to Water Resources Department (WRD) superintending engineer N Krishna Rao, steps were taken to supply enough water for Kharif crop in this season.

At present 4 TMC of water is available in the river and water was released to delta canals from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage on Saturday. About 200 cusecs of water was released to Eastern and Western canals and 50 cusecs to Central canal.