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Seema, Telangana face drought threat
Hyderabad: Seema, Telangana Face Drought Threat, Drought conditions loom large across 10 districts of Telangana State and Rayalaseema region in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. According to official sources, due to the failure of onset of southwest monsoon this season, there has been a deficit of about 65 per cent of rainfall in these areas.
- 65% deficit in rainfall in Telangana and Rayalaseema
- No clarity on loan waiver; No new loans for farmers
- Sowing operations have not begun yet; ryots depressed
Hyderabad: Drought conditions loom large across 10 districts of Telangana State and Rayalaseema region in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. According to official sources, due to the failure of onset of southwest monsoon this season, there has been a deficit of about 65 per cent of rainfall in these areas.
The farmers, who have been waiting for rains, were now growing restive and were resorting to agitations. While the farmers in Rayalaseema, particularly in Anantapur district, where they could not take up sowing of groundnut crop, staged a dharna in front of the District Collectorate.
They were further infuriated when the banks refused to provide them loans as the government was yet to clarify on how it would propose to waive off the farm loans.
According to S Malla Reddy, who heads a farmers’ organisation, the farmers in Telangana were also facing a similar situation since the government, which had also promised to waive off loans up to Rs 1lakh, was yet to come up with guidelines.
“Telangana farmers associations will meet in next two or three days to work out an action plan. They may also stage protests against the government,” Malla Reddy said. The main problem being faced by the farmers apart from not getting fresh loans from banks is non-availability of inputs like fertilisers and seeds. Experts say that the farmers in Andhra Pradesh can afford to wait for some more time to start agricultural operations. But in Telangana the yield would fall drastically even if it rains now. The fall in the yield could be up to the extent of 30-40 per cent.
According to official figures, paddy is cultivated in about 20 lakh acres and dry crops are sown in 70 lakh acres in Telangana. Though cotton sowing was done in certain districts, germination process did not happen due to prolonged dry spell. The only option for them now is to switch over to sunflower or jowar.
According to the crop and season report released by the agriculture department, the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh have received 57 per cent less rainfall as compared to 2012-2013. The farmers’ organisations say that as there is still some possibility of rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, the government should make available the required seeds, fertilisers and other inputs and should also resolve the issue of loan waiver so that the farmers can get fresh loans. Otherwise, the farmers would be forced to go to private money lenders and in case the rains fail, it could trigger suicides.
