Paddy farmers predict bumper harvest in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Paddy farmers of Krishna district are expecting bumper crop during this kharif season as adequate water is being released from Prakasam Barrage due to Krishna river floods.

Paddy is the most important crop in Krishna district with total cultivated area of 2.45 lakh hectares. Most of the paddy crop is cultivated mainly in downstream of Prakasam Barrage from Penamaluru and Vuyyur mandals to the Diviseema region, Kaikaluru, Kalidindi and other mandals.

Due to heavy inflows of floodwater from upland area in Karnataka and Maharashtra States, reservoirs in Krishna river basin are filled with floodwater. Over 300 tmcft water was released from Pulichintala reservoir and Prakasam barrage this rainy season into sea.

Lakhs of farmers in the Krishna Delta are in a jubilant mood with release of irrigation water this kharif season. Farmers are expecting 34 bags of paddy per acre due to availability of water in the stipulated time, said P Mohana Rao, Joint Director of Agriculture. He also pointed out that there is no problem of pests this season and it will help to get better output.

Mohana Rao said last year also the paddy was cultivated in 2.45 lakh hectares in the district and paddy output was 33 bags per acre. He hoped this year the output may be one bag more per acre compared to the previous year.

Except some interior areas in Diviseema, most part of the delta area got irrigation water for cultivation of paddy, irrigated dry crops and horticulture crops this season.

The farmers had been depending on only Pattiseema water and groundwater for cultivation of crops for the past few years. Luckily, this kharif season, the delta region received sufficient waters.

Joint Collector K Madhavi Latha said paddy production is estimated at 14.55 lakh metric tonnes in Krishna district this season. She has asked the civil supplies department officials to get ready for paddy procurement from farmers.

She said the price of A grade paddy is Rs 1,835 per quintal and common variety Rs 1,815. She asked the officials to get prepared to take rice from the rice millers and make necessary arrangements for it.