Kharif ops in full swing

• Transplantation completed in nearly 30 per cent crop area by the end of first week of July 
• Excess rainfall, Pattiseema water give morale boost to the farming community
• Normal crop area is 3,23,132 hectares

Vijayawada: Kharif season began with a bang in Krishna district with the district registering excess rainfall in June and in the first week of July and release of Pattiseema water from the Prakasam Barrage to Krishna Eastern Delta. 

Till the end of first week of July, transplantation of paddy seedlings has been completed in more than 92,000 hectares this kharif season in the district against only 60,000 hectares completed for the same period in kharif season last year.

Normal crop area in Krishna district is 3,23,132 hectares in kharif season.  So far, transplantation was completed in over 92,000 hectares, said joint director of agriculture T Mohan Rao. He said the district registered 143 mm rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 97.8 mm. 

The district recorded 46 per cent excess rainfall last month. Similarly, in the first week of July, it recorded 55.9 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 41.7 mm.

Release of Pattiseema water to the Krishna eastern delta on June 20 will be beneficial to the thousands of farmers downstream of the Prakasam Barrage. Paddy is the very important crop in Krishna district. Last  year, paddy was cultivated in 2,32,456 hectares. Now, the crop area has been increased to 2.50 lakh hectares this season. 

The agriculture department is planning to ensure supply of seeds to the farmers to reach the targets. Raising seed beds is continuing at a brisk pace in different parts of the district.

Cotton, maize and red gram are the other important crops in kharif season in the district. Normal cotton cultivated area is 50,600 hectares and maize 5,000 hectares. 

So far, sowing of cotton seeds is completed in 43,000 hectares and maize in 3,890 hectares. Agriculture joint director Mohan Rao told The Hans India, about 30 per cent sowing has been completed in the district by the first week of July. 

He said Pattiseema water is very useful to the farmers of the district. Besides, excess rainfall had given a morale boost to the peasants.