Rain deficit hits Kharif sowing in Adilabad

Adilabad: Farmers in erstwhile Adilabad district are a worried lot these days as the district has been facing 75 per cent rainfall deficit which has hampered progress of cultivation in the ongoing Kharif season.

The farmers who would have planted cotton seeds twice a year were forced to sow in July as there was no rain in June. According to farmers, 90 per cent of the seeds should have been planted by June, but they are being sown again.

In July also, there have been not enough rains. After the first week of July, only 60 per cent of the crops have been cultivated. The farmers are more worried as water levels in ponds and reservoirs have dropped drastically.

At the same time groundwater levels have also dipped In Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Asifabad districts leaving farmers to depend on rains which have been scanty so far. According to farmers, the rain-fed crops like cotton, soybean and pulses cultivation have been badly affected.

In normal condition if the district receives enough rails, agricultural officials estimated that 6.10 lakh hectares would be cultivated this year. But according to the authorities calculations 3.26 lakh hectares have been cultivated so far.

In Adilabad district, 168 mm rainfall was recorded against last year's 230.7mm. Similarly, Komaram Bheem Asifabad district received 170 mm rainfall against 220 mm. In Nirmal district, it was 133 mm against 220 mm, in Mancherial district it was 00.8 mm against 217.8 mm.

Farmers said that if the seeds were sown in the month of June cotton and soybean sprouts would be grow in the first week of July. Due to delay in monsoon, sprouts are drying up.

Agricultural officials are also of the view that crop yield is likely to be affected. Paddy seeding which normally starts in July is yet to start this year. Due to lack of water in Sri Ram Saagar Project (SRSP) Kadem and Swarna projects farmers have now only have hope from rains which have been elusive.