Scanty rainfall leaves Rangareddy farmers in lurch

Rangareddy: Most of the districts of the Telangana are witnessing acute shortage of rainfall though rains have been lashing here and there in this monsoon. Nearly 17 out of 27 mandals of the Rangareddy district have been facing acute shortage of rainfall since June of this year. 

As many as seven mandals of the district have received very low rainfall compared to last year’s statistics. Until now, these seven mandals have received less than 20 per cent rainfall which is very low in the past 10 years. Almost all mandals have received rainfall between 20 to 59 per cent. It is clear indication that the rainfall of district in normal. According the sources, the overall rainfall in entire district was 24 per cent so far.  

Shortage of rains caused drying up the stretches of paddy fields across the district, posing a threat to not only paddy farming but also all the farmers who are raising the green gram, maize and so on. Farmers said that the hundreds of acres of land was already parched because of a drastic shortage in the monsoon rainfall. They said that these monsoon rains were not insufficient and they are not in a position to decide on future course of action. As the result, the morale of the farming community was low as they fear either loss of investment or dented prospects on returns.

Scarcity of ground water

According the sources, the rainfall recorded in the Shankarampally was 58.6 per cent less compared to last year.  All most all mandals of the Rangareddy district have recorded less rainfall compare to last year those are Kothur (50.6%), Chevella (48.9%), Manchala (48.9%), Shamshabad (37.4%), Shabad (36.5%), Kandukur (30.2%), Saroornagar (28.9%), Hayathnagar (25%), Abdullapurmet (23.7%), Sherilingampally (23.3%), Madgu (20.59%). Due to below normal rainfall in the district the ground water levels have drastically fallen. The villages are reeling not only under acute shortage of drinking water but also insufficient water for irrigation.