Paddy sown under borewells dry up

Parigi:   Farmers of Vikarabad district who have cultivated paddy under bore wells are now a disappointed lot as the water table in the bore wells receded. 

Paddy field withered away in an extent of at least 100 acres in the district

Crops started withering away so also the hopes of farmers who pinned their hopes on paddy prospects to celebrate family occasions, to finance children’s education, undertake repairs to houses or house construction.  Area of cultivation of paddy increased as TRS government started supplying power round the clock to agriculture sector. The farmer is reduced to tears noticing the paddy crop on panicles starting withering away.
 
Ponds and tanks have started withering away since one month, when there is enough water. Out of panic to save the crops somehow or anyhow, some farmers started sinking bore wells while others took support from others. The area of cultivation in Vikarabad district is 29,483 hectares. The principal crops being raised are paddy and ground nut. 

Paddy fields at many places in the district – Parigi, Tandur, Yalala, Bomraspet, Kodangal and Doma – developed cracks for want of irrigation facility as the mercury is rising further and further. The farmers are helpless as water scarcity dealt a crippling blow to them when they are about to harvest it in a month or so. Paddy field withered away in an extent of at least 100 acres in the district. The farmers have no option except to use the withered paddy crop as fodder for cattle. 

 Meanwhile, the TS TRANSCO officials are advising farmers to uninstall the automatic starters fixed to their pumpsets. The water is being wasted as some farmers are drawing water from bore wells indiscriminately. The farmers have been appealing to the government to extend them benefit under the crop insurance scheme. When the paddy was transplanted there was good amount of water in the bore well. That is why, they said, they borrowed money from others and raised the crop. 

Attempts of a farmer to strike water and sunk four bore wells within a week borrowing Rs 1 lakh from others were proved futile. He was at a loss to comprehend how to repay the debt. A farmer who raised paddy and dry crops in two acres lost hopes of recovering investments. The farmer is fervently appealing to the government for relief and succor.