Preparations underway for Kharif season

Vikarabad: The farming community is set to sow Kharif crops, as they have already prepared seed beds. Farmers incurred losses as paddy crops dried up after the depletion of ground-level water in Rabi season earlier.

The farmers are also hopeful of sufficient rains in the upcoming monsoon season after the Met Department predicted rains in the ensuing Kharif season. Agriculture officials are making arrangements in this regard. Officials estimate that farmers would cultivate crops in 1.74 lakh hectares in the upcoming Kharif season. It may even reach 2 lakh hectares if there are plenty of rains.

The officials are collecting data (Farmers Integrated Survey) to know which crops are being cultivated by the farmers across the state.

The government has announced an increase in crop input subsidy (Ryhtu Bandu) from Rs 4,000 to 5,000. It is learned that in 2017-18 Kharif season crop was cultivated in about1.53 lakh hectares after low rainfall was recorded. Farmers will be sowing red gram, maize, jowar, cotton, soybean and others in the season.

Officials estimated that there is a need of 18,052 quintals of subsidised seeds to distribute to farmers in the district. The officials are taking necessary measures to bail out farmers by arranging fertilizers in required quantities.

It is learned that a total of 56,443 metric tonnes of fertilizers are available in the district. District Agriculture Officer Gopal said that they are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that no farmer would face any problem with the shortage of seeds and fertilizers in the district.