Hyderabad: While Hyderabad is battered by rains, agriculturists are a happy lot.
Heavy rains filled up rivulets, tanks and other water bodies besides increasing groundwater table this kharif. Barring some damage to crops, the rain ensured sufficient waters for the ensuing rabi too.
While kharif (43.43 lakh hectares) is dependent on monsoon, especially rainfed areas, rabi (12.53 lakh ha) is totally dependent on assured waters like rivulets, tanks and borewells.
Agriculture secretary C. Parthasarathy told DC that the heavy downpour over the past one week and fairly good monsoon in the past is a boon for agriculture.
“Barring some damage, the rains are a big boon to farmers and agriculture. Agriculture is mainly dependent on water and it has sufficient now. The rivers, tanks and other water bodies, groundwater table have all gone up ensuring sufficient water for ensuing rabi too,” he said.
Reports from nine districts to the Agriculture department indicated completion of sowing this kharif in 37.80 lakh ha or 87 per cent of the normal season area of 43.43 lakh hectares.
Ranga Reddy district, Nizamabad, Medak, Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Mahbubnagar reported coverage of sowings from 76 per cent to 100 per cent of the area.
“Maize, red gram, green gram, black gram and soya bean has recorded 100 per cent sowing, jowar, groundnut, chillies, turmeric and onion between 76 per cent to 100 per cent, paddy, bajra, castor, sesamum, sunflower and cotton from 51 per cent to 75 per cent while other crops like Ragi, sugarcane and horse gram from 25 per cent to 50 per cent,” an official said.
