Rain hits groundnut in Madakasira

Madakasira: The groundnut yield in the Madakasira area is likely drop due to continuous rains in the district. Last year, the groundnut farmers incurred heavy loss as rain god played truant.

This year, the incessant rains affected the crop yield. The farmers are apprehensive of recovering investments and let alone making profit. Rains being experienced in the region for the past 10 days pushed the farmer deep into crisis. The morale of farmer was on a low ebb. At the time of sowing and flowering, timely rains boosted the farmers’ morale. Had there been some let up in the rain, the small pods of groundnut formed did not transform into clusters thereby affecting the crop yield.

In the region, the crop is cultivated in 33,482.8 hectares. There are barely four or five pods to each tree. The maximum yield per acre would be predicted as not more than 5 or 6 bags. Raghunadha Reddy, a farmer from Papanasipalli, said that he raised the crop in six acres spending at least Rs 90,000. Powdery mildew has affected the plant because of the rains under the influence of cyclones.

PN Chandrasekhar Reddy