Nellore: While excess rain in the wake of Cyclone Helen had submerged and damaged the standing crop in north Andhra, scanty rainfall has reduced the paddy cultivation area in SPSR Nellore district.
The farmers are wary over raising crops, especially in upland areas, because of lack of rains. In fact, the rainfall parameters are suitable for declaring six mandals including Varikuntapadu, Bogolu, A.S. Peta, Chejerla, Podalakur, Dakkili and Venkatagiri as drought-hit.
The deficit in rainfall is to the extent of 34 per cent during October and November (northeast monsoon season), which contributes 51 per cent of annual rainfall in the district. Worst-hit areas, because of the decline in the rainfall, were mandals located in the western part of the district.
Even the eastern parts of the district also would have been in the same situation if not for the reasonable rainfall during October. The rainfall was 203.1 mm as against normal rainfall of 239 mm in October 2013.
However, the rainfall in November, which is coming to end in two days, is 130.9 mm as against 313.4 mm. The sharp drop is causing uneasiness among the farmers. Moreover, the district hardly receives any rains during December except in case of cyclones.
For instance, the normal rainfall in December is 109 mm and it remained below normal in six out of 10 years. Even if the normal rainfall is achieved it cannot overtake the overall deficit.
Chief planning officer P.B.K. Murthy said that only 50,000 hectare have been covered under paddy cultivation out of total 2,78,782 hectare during rabi season (ongoing agriculture season) so far. He felt that the paddy growing area may come down if the same situation, with respect to rainfall, is continued.
Incidentally, paddy growing area came down by 34 per cent during kharif season also in the district because of lack of water in Somasila then. Paddy was raised in 32,240 hectares out of the total paddy cultivated area of 62,000 hectare during kharif season this year.
