Karimnagar: Farmers in undivided Karimnagar district have yet to begin sowing in the kharif season, due to the delay in the monsoons. Usually, by the first week of June, agricultural operations such as ploughing of fields, levelling of soil, removing of weeds, applying fertilizers and sowing seeds should be.
Farmers in undivided Karminagar district are worried over the delay in the rains and that the late sowing of seeds will result in poor yielding of crops.
“Anticipating rain after the first week of June, I have sown cotton seeds in six acres of land. If the region gets rain, the seeds and fertilizers which I applied will be saved, Otherwise, I will incur a huge loss,” said Thirupathaiah, a farmer from Ramadagu mandal.
In 2016-17 the undivided Karimnagar district recorded 1,266.02 mm rain, in 2017-18 it received 701.8 mm rainfall and in 2018-19 as much as 705.04 mm rainfall was recorded. The forecast of normal monsoon by the weather office has kept hopes of a bountiful harvest this year afloat.
According to the agriculture department a total of 5.15 lakh acres of land is expected to be brought under cultivation in this kharif season in undivided Karimnagar district.
Paddy is expected to be cultivated in 1.70 lakh acres, cotton in 2.30 acres, maize in 70,000 acres, pulses in 10,000 acres, chillies in 3,000 acres, sugarcane in 1,200 acres and other crops in 20,000 acres. But, with the monsoon yet to pick up steam, the current data may be non-conclusive. However, once the monsoon spreads, the situation will improve drastically, they add.
Agriculture officer of Karimnagar Rural mandal, B. Sathyam said, “With deficit quantities of groundwater-levels and less percentage of moisture in the soil, farmers who sow seeds will incur huge losses, as the seeds will not germinate.
Farmers need to wait for a few more days for the region to receive considerable rainfall.”
Farmers have been advised to go for shorter duration paddy and cotton varieties along with other crops where irrigation water is likely to be available through the projects present in their respective regions.
Meanwhile, some parts of the district witnessed scanty showers on Thursday evening bringing cheers to farmers who hope that the region will receive plentiful rainfall in the days to come and speed up farming activities.
