Cold wave hits Karimnagar crops, paddy seedlings stunted despite fertiliser use

Severe cold weather in Karimnagar has affected both mango orchards and paddy seedlings, with farmers reporting stunted growth despite the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Seedlings that usually grow within 25–35 days have failed to mature even after 45 days in the current Yasangi season.

Karimnagar: Not only people, agricultural crops are also facing troubles with severe cold weather conditions prevailing in the state during the last few weeks. While mango orchards are unable to flower even if the usual time of flowering has almost ended, the growth of paddy seedling germination has also been affected.

As many as 25 to 35 days are usually sufficient to grow seedlings. However, there was no adequate growth even after 45 days of formation of seedlings in the present Yasangi season. Farmers believe that it is possible to get a bumper yield if the paddy plantation is done in January, especially before the Sankranthi festival.

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Accordingly, preparation for the seedling germination was carried out in the first week of December. However, there has been no growth in saplings even after 25 days.

Usually, farmers get adequate yield if the paddy plantation is done in between 25 to 35 days after the formation of seedlings. It seems that seedlings are unable to grow even after 45 days this time around despite supply of fertilisers and pesticides.

Surprisingly, some of the ryots have performed some protective rituals suspecting that their seedlings were affected by ‘disti’ (evil eye). Farmers are eagerly waiting, having prepared lands for plantation.

Speaking to Telangana Today, a farmer from Chenjerla of Manakondur mandal, Dasari Nagaiah said that he formed seedlings on December 1 to take up plantation in three-and-a-half acres of land.

However, saplings have not grown at least two inches in height even after 24 days of formation. Though he prepared land for the plantation, the seedling was not ready. Stating that he never faced such a situation in the past, Nagaiah said he had even used urea.

Farmers suffered the loss due to rains at the time of harvesting of Vanakalam crop. Now, inadequate growth of seedlings has become another problem. Nowadays, there was no benefit with agriculture since huge money has to be spent for various things such as tractors, labourers, fertilisers, pesticides and others, he opined.

Another farmer Odelu said that he had already sprinkled fertilisers and pesticides for growth as well as protecting seedlings from insects. There was no growth of saplings even after 30 days of formation. So, he has to supply fertilisers and pesticides, he said.