Scanty rainfall hits kharif operations in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Scanty rainfall has been affecting the kharif operations in the district. Two years ago, the district officials planned to advance kharif season works for one month with an aim to avoid cyclone damages during November.

If the kharif season is advanced by one-month period, the paddy harvesting season also ends by October. As per information provided by chief planning officer K Mohan Rao, out of total 38 mandals, excess rainfall reported in one mandal Ranastalam in the district during current kharif season till July 5.

Laveru, Kanchili, Itchapuram and Sompeta mandals received normal rainfall of 131.2 mm in the season. Deficit rainfall is reported in ten mandals Kotturu, Ponduru, Etcherla, L N Peta, Burja, Nandigama, Vajrapukotturu, Tekkali, Santhabommali and Mandasa. Excess rainfall is calculated as more than 20 per cent than normal rainfall.

Normal rainfall is measured as less than or more than 19 per cent of actual rainfall. Deficit rainfall is being decided as 20 to 59 per cent less rain than normal and scanty rainfall calculated as from 60 to 99 per cent less rainfall than normal.

Scanty rainfall reported in 23 mandals in the district. Out of total 38 mandals, 33 mandals received deficit and scanty rainfall which is not sufficient for paddy crop works. Every year June 1 to July 5, total 35 days period is crucial for kharif paddy works and normal rainfall across the district during this period is 7,197.7 mm but this year actual reported rainfall is 1,160.9 mm and deficit rainfall is less than 56.1 per cent than normal.

"For the last several years, paddy farmers are adopting direct sowing methods which is saving time for at least one month and even in scanty rainfall situation also, we can cover 5.25 lakh acres cultivated area in the district," Joint Director for Agriculture K Ch Appala Swamy told The Hans India.