The deficient rainfall is bound to have a major impact on the agricultural production in the State.
Addressing a press conference at the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University at Rajendernagar here on Thursday, university’s vice-chancellor Prof V Nagi Reddy informed that although the rainfall was normal, the major reservoirs in the State had poor inflows due to non-receipt of rain in the catchment areas. Therefore, the farmers at many places have been advised to go for alternate crops.
Disclosing the details, Nagi Reddy said that the South West monsoon was set-in over Rayalaseema, some parts of South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on June 16 and covered the entire by June 17. The monsoon was delayed by 10 days. The monsoon was active to vigorous over the State during the week endings on July 11, July 18 and July 25, which resulted in fairly widespread rains in different parts of the State.
The rainfall received up to August 29 was 341 mm as against the normal of 327 mm. During the period ending August 29, the State as a whole received a 4 per cent deficient rainfall. In Nagarjuna Sagar project, the total Ayacut area in Right Canal is 11.13 lakh acres and in Left Canal is 10.30 lakh acres. However, as against the total capacity of 180.3 TMC, the storage as on August 29 was 131.2 TM.
As there was not much inflow into both Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs which require around 352 TMC to completely fil both the reservoirs, the farmers have been asked to plan early Rabi by sowing irrigated dry crops which require 4-5 irrigations.
Similarly, under Sri Ram Sagar project Karimangar district has an Ayacut area of 5.16 lakh acres while Warangal district has an area of 2.5 lakh acres. But, as against the capacity of 73.8 TMC, the storage as on August 7 was just 16.5 TMC.
Nagi Reddy said that the water levels in the reservoirs and tanks were very low due to lack of inflows and need around 74 TMC to completely fill the reservoir. Though the inflows were low, farmers resorted to planting rice crop by using wells and tanks. Wherever the areas are not covered, farmers may plan for early Rabi with irrigated dry crops that require 4-5 irrigations after receipt of sufficient inflows by carefully monitoring the reservoir inflows. Out of 80 lakh ha of cropped area 68.5 lakh ha has been covered till date. By the end of the season, there is likely deficit of 8 lakh ha of which 6 lakh ha with rice and 2 lakh ha with Groundnut and other crops, he said.
The ANGRAU VC said that the farmers were being advised alternate crops based on the rainfall received in their respective areas. He said measures were also being taken to import seeds of alternate crops from other States to avert crisis.
Agriculture Department Commissioner Madhusudhan Reddy and R Sudhakar Rao, Director (Research) of NREGA, were also present during the press conference. (INN)