The Hindu Business Line : Crop outlook dismal in AP

Hyderabad, Aug. 7 After four years of bountiful kharif seasons, the farmers in Andhra Pradesh are going to witness an unprecedented situation, with at least 1,000 mandals out of the 1,128 reporting deficit rainfall.

While vast stretches are yet to see sowings, crops on lakhs of acres face the threat of withering or wilting due to severe deficits in rainfall.

According to the figures available on August 5, the State shows a deficit of 52 per cent, with the South-West monsoon playing truant. Against the normal as-on-date figure of 322.20 mm, the State received only 153.80 mm. The problem seems to be more serious than what is reported officially. A senior Agriculture Department official put the deficit at 60 per cent.

Seeing the severity of the issue, the State Government may declare three-fourths of the mandals drought-hit, and seek Central assistance.

Hopes crashed

The hopes of the farmers and officials that the first week of August might see showers crashed, with seven districts reporting deficits of 60 per cent to 99 per cent. The remaining districts, barring the three North coastal districts, registered deficits between 20 per cent and 59 per cent.

This has impacted almost all crops. Paddy and groundnut were sown in just 26-56 per cent of the normal area. Sugarcane, maize, onion and tur dal were sown in 51-75 per cent, while cotton is slightly better off with 76-100 per cent sown area.

Paddy growing districts

The three key paddy growing districts of East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts reporting deficits of 41 per cent, 47 per cent and 65 per cent shows the enormity of the problem.

“Jowar, maize, cotton, tur dal, and groundnut show withering or wilting symptoms. The growth could be stunted if there are no rains in the next two-three days. Yields too will drop significantly,” the senior official of the Department said.

Farmers say the situation is still grimmer and the challenge is to protect the crop sown.

“The crop sown need water, which is completely absent. This will impact the crops further,” said Mr Vasanth, a sugar farmer in Medak district.

The situation in places which have assured canal irrigation is no different as quantity and quality of power is causing severe problems. “We estimate at least a crop loss of 40-50 per cent in sugar cane and paddy,” Mr N.S.V. Sharma, General Secretary of Federation of Sugar Cane Growers of Andhra Pradesh, told Business Line over phone from Hanuman Junction in Krishna district.

Mr Sharma said he had not seen this situation in the last 40 years.

More Stories on : Cultivation | Outlook | Climate & Weather | Andhra Pradesh

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