Dry spell hits paddy cultivation in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Due to long dry spell, kharif paddy crop cultivation works are being affected in the district during current season. In every kharif season paddy crop is being cultivated in total 5.25 lakh acres extent of land across the district and 1.50 lakh quintals of paddy seed is required.

Per one acre land, 30 kg seed bag is required and its cost in open market is Rs 960. But the government is supplying it through AP Seeds Corporation and Agriculture department for Rs 660 by providing Rs 300 subsidy.

Farmers across the district are adopting two methods this year for paddy cultivation - one is direct sowing method and another is growing of nursery and re-plantation. After sowing of seeds in the two methods, the district has not received the required rainfall for the past one month. Farmers had been sowing seeds by adopting two methods during June. But lack of proper rainfall, more than 80 per cent of seed was damaged.

According to Chief Planning Officer (CPO), K Mohan Rao, out of the total 38 mandals, excess rainfall reported only in Ranastalam mandal in the district during current kharif season till July 12. Normal rain fall in the mandal is 142.4 mm, but actual rainfall is 182.2 mm and excess rainfall is 27.9 mm. Laveru, Kanchili, Itchapuram and Sompeta mandals received normal rainfall of 131.2 mm during the current kharif season in these mandals.

Deficit rainfall is reported in 10 mandals Kotturu, Ponduru, Etcherla, L N Peta, Burja, Nandigama, Vajrapukotturu, Tekkali, Santhabommali and Mandasa. Scanty rainfall reported in 23 mandals in the district. Out of total 38 mandals in the district, 33 mandals received deficit and scanty rainfall which is not sufficient for paddy crop.

``This year, we lost our seed due to dry spell and need to sow the seed again by investing money again,'' Ch Lakshunnaidu, P Venkata Ramana, K Raju farmers of Gorinta village in Ponduru mandal explained. Agriculture department is unable to supply seed again in the district and farmers have to depend on private dealers to sow seed again.

'As per government guidelines we have to supply 40 per cent seed out of the total required, but this year we are ready to supply 50 per cent seed',' Joint Director (JD) for Agriculture, K Ch Appala Swamy said. Total required seed is 1.50 lakh quintals. Half of the seed has already been supplied and we are ready to supply the remaining 75,000 quintals seed, the JD added.