NIZAMABAD: For the first time in the last 25 years, the agriculture department in Nizamabad district has reduced the estimate of cultivation area for rabi, compared to last year, due to unfavorable climatic conditions.
In view of the prevailing drought-like conditions in the district, officials estimated that crops would be grown in only 2,03,900 hectares. During last rabi, crops were grown in 2,50,269 ha. Usually, officials would propose cultivation of crops in extended area, compared to the previous season, but this time, officials have gone for reduced estimates.
In kharif, usally, paddy is cultivated in a larger extent. Based on the monsoon and water storage capacities in projects and water bodies, the farmers will sow paddy, cotton, sugarcane and maize crops. In rabi, farmers prefer ID crops. Cultivation of paddy is not encouraged during rabi citing shortage of water.
This time, the drought-like conditions are prompting officials to encourage farmers to grow ID crops.
According to statistics available with the agriculture department, crops were sown in around 2.5 lakh hectares in last rabi. At present, the paddy sown area is restricted to only 60,000 hectares against 1,08,689 ha in last season. On the same lines, estimates regarding coarse grains, pulses and commercial crop area has also been reduced.
Speaking to this newspaper, assistant director of agriculture MA Wazid Hussain said never had September been so dry without any rain.
