Rajahmundry: The farming community and the agriculture department are geared up for the second crop, the rabi, in East Godavari with the starting of sowing operations in some areas.
The activity is being taken up in 1.52 lakh hectares in the district in the entire delta area. The farming community is said to have shown considerable interest in taking up the second crop despite the setback of inundation of first crop kharif due to rains after the Phailin cyclone, Helen and Lehar thereafter.
According to agriculture department sources, sowing operations to an extent of 30 per cent were already finished in the district and it is going on at a brisk pace though some delay was noticed in Konaseema region.
The department has taken care in the supply of fertiliser, seed and pesticides to avoid shortage. These precautions are said to have been taken in view of finding of discoloured paddy in the first crop in some areas, particularly in Konaseema, where inundation was noticed for more days despite bumper yield.
On the other hand, the three cyclones in a row and the unexpected losses brought out the issue of agriculture loan rescheduling to the fore with some political parties even demanding waiver of farm loans.
Joint director of agriculture N. Vijay Kumar said that on their part they have taken all the care in the maintenance of sufficient stocks of fertilisers, pesticides and seeds. On the issue of discoloured paddy, the JD said that the civil supplies department is persuading the matter with higher-ups at Hyderabad.
East Godavari lead bank district manager, S. Jagannadha Swamy said that as far as loan rescheduling is concerned, the authorities should come out with the lists of rain-affected mandals first.
