El Niño To Hit Rayalaseema the Hardest in AP

Kurnool: The impact of El Niño is expected to weigh heavily on Andhra Pradesh this year, with Rayalaseema districts likely to bear the brunt, along with parts of Nellore and Prakasam, agricultural and meteorological officials have said.

At a recent meeting held at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in Vijayawada, experts reviewed the evolving climatic conditions and warned of below-normal rainfall across the state.

“Earlier, we estimated rainfall at about 94 per cent of normal. However, the latest indicators suggest it may not even reach 90 per cent this year,” said Dr. G. Narayanaswamy, agrometeorologist at the Rekulakunta Research Centre in Anantapur.

He pointed out that the rainfall distribution would be highly uneven. “We may see 90 mm rainfall in one area on a single day, while another region may receive less than 5 mm. Such variability will be a major concern, especially for Rayalaseema,” he explained.

Scientists have already observed adverse signals in Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, a key indicator of El Niño conditions. Though the phenomenon will influence the entire country, its impact is expected to be more pronounced in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.

It is believed the El Niño effect may begin after June 15 and persist until September, disrupting the southwest monsoon.

In view of the situation, agricultural experts have advised farmers to shift towards short-duration and low water-intensive crops. They cautioned against cultivating water-demanding crops, such as paddy, groundnut, banana, and papaya.

“We are already visiting villages and creating awareness among farmers about El Niño. We are advising them to opt for crops that require less water,” said an agricultural officer from Nandyal district.

Farmers remain deeply concerned. S. Sivasankar, a farmer from Banaganapalle in Nandyal district, said declining groundwater levels are already causing distress among them. “I have a six-acre mango orchard. Water levels in borewells have dropped significantly. We are worried whether new borewells will yield water at all,” he wondered. Many farmers share the same fear.

Adding to their woes, unseasonal rains and strong winds earlier this year have already caused significant damage to horticulture crops. “Banana, mango, and papaya farmers have suffered heavy losses due to unexpected weather events. This year has been particularly harsh for horticulture,” said another farmer.

In Rayalaseema districts of Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa, and Chittoor, cultivation during the kharif season is expected to be taken up in over 15,000 hectares. However, due to the impact of El Niño, there are indications that the extent of cultivation may decline significantly.