Incessant rains worry farmers in Sangareddy as black soil crops face stunted growth

Farmers in Sangareddy face losses after sudden heavy rains followed a long dry spell. Crops like cotton, maize, and soya in black soil are now at risk. Officials urge farmers to drain water and follow expert advice to reduce damage

Sangareddy: After extended dry spells through June and early July, the sudden spell of incessant rains since Wednesday has left farmers in Sangareddy district anxious about damage to Vanakalam crops, particularly those sown in black soil.

Farmers who had sown cotton, maize, soya, red gram and other semi-arid crops during June suffered setbacks due to delayed germination caused by the earlier dry spell. In desperation, many resorted to sowing two to three times, incurring significant additional expenditure. Just as the seeds began to sprout, the continuing downpour has raised fresh concerns.

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The water stagnation, especially in black soil areas, is now threatening to stunt the growth of crops like cotton, maize and soya.

District Agriculture Officer K Shivaprasad told Telangana Today that farmers should immediately drain excess water from fields if it remains stagnant for long durations. He advised spraying 5 to 10 kg of urea per acre once the rains subside, but only after consulting local agricultural officers.

Shivaprasad cautioned that continued rainfall over the next week could further affect crop growth in black soil regions. However, he pointed out that the rains have proven beneficial to paddy, sugarcane, and other water-intensive crops. He also noted that the downpour would help recharge the severely depleted groundwater table, which had taken a hit due to the absence of rain earlier in the monsoon season.