AP Govt in favour of releasing water for early rabi

Guntur: The state government is in favour of releasing water for early rabi in Nagarjunasagar right canal ayacut area in Guntur and Prakasam districts to cultivate paddy in 12.5-lakh acres. 

Taking increasing inflows into Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs into consideration, the government took this decision. The government has directed the officials to make necessary arrangements to supply seeds and fertilizers to the farmers.

The government will make an official announcement to this effect  in two or three days. The government has already directed the agriculture department to supply seeds and fertilizers to the farmers.

Sources in the agriculture department informed that the they will suggest the farmers to use short term seed varieties for early rabi to get crop in January and government could able to supply sufficient water for early rabi. This decision will benefit the farmers of Nagarjunasagar right canal ayacut area in Guntur and Prakasam districts. 

Due to deficit rainfall during the kharif, the farmers of the NS Right Canal ayacut area of Guntur and Prakasam districts are preparing to cultivate irrigated dry crops. 

They are eagerly waiting for water to cultivate paddy during this season. The government is releasing Pattiseema project water to Krishna Western Delta region of Guntur district to save the standing crops. 

Meanwhile, some farmers in Bollapalli, Veldurti and Macherla mandals are cultivating paddy with borewells water in 50,000 acres. D Samasiva Rao, a farmer in Vinukonka mandal said: "We are eagerly waiting for NS water to cultivate paddy. Incessant rains during the last four days filled Srisailam reservoir and filling Nagarjunasagar reservoir. We pinned hopes on Nagarujunasagar right canal water to cultivate paddy”.

Meanwhile, there is no crop damage or loss due to incessant rains during the last four days in the district. Cotton fields were inundated with rain water in Tullur mandal, vegetable gardens were submerged in Tadepalli mandal in Guntur district. The rain water was started receding in the agriculture fields. 

Speaking to The Hans India, joint director of agriculture M Vijaya Bharati said: "There is no crop damage due to incessant rains during the last four days. Cotton fields were inundated in Tullur and Amaravati mandals in 1,592 hectares”.