Hyderabad: Drought-like conditions are staring at the new state of Telangana, if the rains continue to stay away affecting farming activities.
In view of deficit rains, the total area sown in Telangana, as on date, is 4.283 lakh hectares as against the normal sowing of 9.49 lakh hectares, amounting to almost 50 per cent drop in the sowing.
During kharif, the total area sown is 40.38 lakh acres in Telangana region.
Though the government provided sufficient quantity of seeds, fertilisers and other agriculture inputs, they have remained unutilised by farmers as there have been no rains.
“We have given sufficient quantity of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs in the state. There is no shortage anywhere” said Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, agriculture minister.
Average rainfall received in Telangana from June 1 to June 25 was 45.9 mm as against the normal rainfall of 105.1 mm, a deficit of -56 per cent.
While Medak, Ranga Reddy and Khammam are worst hit recording scanty rainfall -60 per cent to -99 per cent, the remaining districts of Nizamabad, Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Hyderabad and Mahbubnagar recorded deficit rainfall of -20 per cent to - 59 per cent.
“We still have time till July 10 for sowings. We will think about contingency plans only after that,” said Poonam Malakondaiah, principal secretary to government, agriculture and co-operation.
Due to delay in monsoon and erratic rainfall, maize crops sowed in about 8000 hectares are withering in Mahbubnagar.
“Maize, pulses, cotton and soya bean are sown, wherever there has been rainfall,” said an agriculture official.
