Poor rainfall, uncertain irrigation water supply slows down sowing operations in Telangana
Poor rainfall and delayed irrigation in Telangana have stalled Kharif sowing, with only 42.5 per cent of the target area cultivated. Farmers fear crop losses if rains don’t improve soon. Officials warn that cotton, chilli, and paddy crops are at risk
Hyderabad: Poor rainfall coupled with uncertainty over irrigation water supply have slowed down sowing operations in Telangana for the ongoing Vaanakalam (Kharif) season. Only 42.48 per cent of the normal cropping area has been cultivated so far, raising concerns across the farming community. Out of the expected 132.44 lakh acres, crops have been sown in just 56.26 lakh acres, marginally above last year’s 56.19 lakh acres for the same period.
The shortfall is attributed primarily to delayed and deficient rainfall, with the State recording 165.5 mm compared to 218.9 mm last year and an average rainfall of 186.4 mm, showing deviation of -11 per cent. Despite huge inflows from the upper riparian States, the Congress government’s callousness in lifting water using various irrigation projects, had only worsened the situation.
The uneven monsoon has confined most cultivation to areas with borewells and tanks, limiting rainfed sowing to cotton, maize, chilli, soybean, peas, and sorghum. Though late-June showers and early July rains have marginally improved crop conditions, agriculture department officials warn that unless the State receives good rainfall in the coming fortnight, already-sown crops like cotton, chilli, and sorghum may suffer irreversible damage.
While paddy cultivation is in the stages of nursery to transplanting across the State, sowing of pulses is in progress and crops like cotton are in the vegetation stage. Among key crops, cotton has been sown in 36.30 lakh acres, slightly above last year’s 35.71 lakh acres. Maize saw an increase to 5.34 lakh acres, up from 2.45 lakh acres. Though improved over last year, paddy is still lagging at just 5.01 lakh acres compared to the normal area of 62.47 lakh acres.
While the IMD forecasts light to moderate rains until July 16, farmers remain skeptical, sowing seeds at the first sign of drizzle in hopes of salvaging the season. Agriculture scientists also warn that erratic monsoons have narrowed the optimal sowing window, leaving farmers with little time for recovery.
Farmers’ associations are demanding urgent government intervention, including advance payment of crop insurance premiums and pressure on insurance companies to process claims swiftly in the event of crop loss.
“The next couple of weeks are critical. If rains do not materialise soon, the State’s crop coverage may fall well short of the targeted one crore acres,” a top official in the Agriculture department told Telangana Today.
