Paddy transplantation begins in 2.24L hectare in East Godavari

Rajamahendravaram: Paddy transplantation was started in 2,24,459 hectares in East Godavari district during kharif season, of it 40,263 hectares in central delta, 91,855 hectares in eastern delta, 46,512 hectares in upland areas and 15,824 hectares in Agency area.

Paddy crop is raised in 2,24,459 lakh hectares as against 2.23 lakh hectares in the district.

Speaking to The Hans India on Friday, agriculture department joint director K S V Prasad said that the farmers cultivate Swarna 7027 variety of paddy along with other varieties such as MTU 1064, MTU 1071 and MTU 1061.

If the harvest comes by November 20, it will benefit the farmers to go for second crop, he added. Expecting 13 lakh metric tonnes of paddy yield during this kharif season, 4.5 lakh farmers cultivating paddy crop in the district.

The usage of fertilizers is reduced to 1.75 lakh metric tonnes this year as against 2.20 lakh metric tonnes last year and 11,500 quintals of paddy seed is distributed to farmers and 98,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers required for this season, he told.

The department is bringing awareness among the farmers on latest farming methods through 1,129 Rythu Bharosa Centres, he averred.

Godvari Head Works executive engineer K Mohan Rao said plenty of water is available in river Godavari for kharif crop. As many as 120 TMC of water is required for kharif season and the department is taking all steps to supply water for cultivation to tail-end paddy fields also, he said and added the officials were monitoring the water flow every hour in the river. As eastern, central and western canals are flowing with full water levels, he pointed out the farmers need not worry about supply of water for cultivation.

One farmer M Mangaraju of Katheru village said the atmosphere is conducive for paddy transplantation works and hopes the harvest comes during last week of November if all goes well.