Government encourages farmers to go for non-paddy crops

Guntur: Farmers in Nagarjunasagar ayacut area of Guntur district are in a dilemma on whether the government will provide them water for kharif or not.Farmers under N S Canal ayacut area in Guntur district cultivate paddy in 6.74 lakh acres. Generally, they start kharif operations in July last week or August first week.

At present there is no sufficient water in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs to release water for kharif. During the last two years, the government did not release water for kharif. This year too, the farmers are not sure whether they will receive water for their ayacut.

There is no sufficient rainfall in the upstream of Krishna river till now. Following instructions of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the government directed the farmers of NS canal ayacut area of Guntur district to cultivate pre-kharif crops to get some income. The government targeted pulses and cotton in 40,000 hectares.

The farmers cultivated red gram, black gram, green gram, cotton, in 20,000 hectares.However, deficit rainfall and adverse seasonal conditions like high day temperatures in June 3rd week led to damage of some crops.

While some farmers suffered crop damage, other farmers are not coming to forward to cultivate the pre-kharif crops. The paddy farmers are worried that they may not get water for ayacut this year as there has been no rise in water levels in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar reservoirs.

The government is planning to release water if there are sufficient inflows to Nagarjunasagar. If there is no improvement in the water level, the water release will not be possible. However, the government released 1 tmc ft water to Nagarjunasagar right canal to cater to the drinking water needs in Guntur district.

Nagarjunasagar Canals SE S V Ramana Rao said, “At present there is no sufficient water in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dam to release water for kharif in N S Canal ayacut area of Guntur district. We have pinned hopes on rains in upstream of the Krishna river. At present there is slight rise in water level at Jurala reservoir.

If we get good rains in the upstream of the river, we may get water into Nagarjunasagar water. Based on the water availability, the government will take a decision on release of water for kharif. We have requested the government to release 10 tmc ft water for drinking purpose. The government released 1 tmc feet water to NS right and one tmcft to left canal (for Telangana) for drinking water purpose. The water will be utilised to fill the drinking water tanks.“

Meanwhile, the government is taking measures to encourage cotton farmers who show interest to shift to other crops.
Joint Director of Agriculture VDV Krupa Das said, "The government is supplying seeds on 75 per cent subsidy to the cotton farmers who wish to take up cultivation of other crops. We are creating awareness among farmers to reduce cotton growing area in the district."

The government is planning the awareness drive as chilli farmers who had suffered losses, are taking up cultivation of cotton in Guntur district. As such the cotton cultivation may go up from 5 lakh acres to 7 lakh acres in the district. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the agriculture officials to encourage farmers to shift to other crops to ensure farming turned into a profitable activity.

By V L Syam Sundar