Prolonged dry spell leaves Adilabad farmers worried

Farmers are facing crop losses due to a prolonged dry spell, despite early monsoon rains. With rainfall deficits across four districts, many ryots fear failed germination and rising input costs, leading to mounting debt and anxiety.

Adilabad: An unusually prolonged dry spell has become a major concern for farmers who sowed various crops in the ongoing Vanakalam season across the erstwhile Adilabad district.

The early onset of the monsoon had initially raised hopes among the farming community. Encouraged by the showers, ryots sowed cotton, paddy and other irrigated crops during the first week of June. In all, commercial crops were raised on 10.67 lakh acres across Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal and Kumram Bheem Asifabad districts. Farmers had expected continuous rainfall to help germinate seeds and support crop growth.

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However, rainfall data presents a worrying picture. Mancherial district recorded an average of just 48 mm of rainfall from June 1 to 23, compared to the normal 121 mm, indicating a deficit of 60 percent. Adilabad district received 96.6 mm as against the normal 143 mm, reflecting a shortfall of 32 percent. Both Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Nirmal districts witnessed a rainfall deficit of 33 percent each.

Farmers are now worried as the dry spell has continued for over two weeks. “I was forced to sow cotton seeds twice. The seeds sown in the first week of June did not germinate. I fear the second round of seeds may also dry up due to lack of rain, causing major losses,” said Chilkuri Mohan of Jimdapur village in Adilabad mandal.

Farmers said they had made significant investments by taking loans from banks and moneylenders. These loans were used to purchase seeds, till land, and pay for labour and other farming operations. They also noted that input costs had risen sharply, including the cost of seeds, ploughing and labour, with many workers hired from neighbouring Maharashtra.