Sweet lemon farmers incur heavy losses due to water scarcity

Kadapa : Due to lack of adequate rains coupled with drastic fall in ground water levels, sweet lemon farmers have been incurring heavy losses owing to crop damage. With the hopes of good rains, farmers have grown sweet lemon in 14,000 acres in the district. Of this area, about 8,000 acres are being cultivated in Vemula, Vempalli, Simhadripuram and Pulivendula mandals in Pulivendula constituency and they have invested around Rs 50,000 per acre.

Owing to shortage of rainfall during September and October, 2019, farmers have arranged sprinklers to protect the standing crops. Despite their efforts, the colour of the sweet lemon has been changed and crop was damaged in several areas with reduced size bringing heavy loss to the farmers. " I have not witnessed such bitter experience during my 15- years of sweet lemon cultivation. This time, crop was damaged and I was forced to sell the crop at cheaper rate,'' says A China Veeraiah of Vemula mandal to The Hans India.

"Ground water levels have drastically come down to 15 to 20 metres. I have invested about 1 lakh for setting bore, but could not get water though the bore was dug very deep. I have supplied water to the plants through tankers. I am very much concerned to protect the standing crop,'' said B Narapu Reddy of Pulivundula.

AP Rythu Sangam district president B Dastagiri Reddy said farmers of the district are facing hardships to provide water for agriculture operations. The district administration is supplying water for 122 villages through the tankers, but 350 villages witness water shortage.