Paddy cultivation rises by five lakh acres in Telangana

Farmers had shifted to paddy, which they cultivated in more than five lakh acres to touch 52 lakh acres as against 47 lakh acres last year.

Data from the ground water department indicates that in eight districts the average water levels fell below 10 meters, 19 districts recorded fall in the range of five to ten metres whereas in six districts, the average water level fell by less than five metres. The average ground water level in the state during January is 7.46 metres below ground level (mgbl). Vikarabad district witnessed the maximum fall at 12.29 mbgl while Khammam reported 3.41 mgbl.

The state has a net average rise of 0.26 m in ground water levels during January as compared to last January. The rise has been observed in 15 districts in the range of 0.10 m (Jagtial) to 3.32 m (Rajanna Sircilla) and a fall in 18 districts in the range of 0.03m (Nizamabad) to 2.71 m (Yadadri).

During the water year 2024-25 (up to January 31) the state received 1049 mm rainfall against 859 mm of normal rainfall. It ranged from 776 mm (Yadadri district) to 1655 mm (Mulugu). This amounts to 22 per cent excess rainfall during the period compared to normal annual rainfall.

The weekly report given by the agriculture department indicates normal rainfall in 18 districts, excess in 12 districts and heavy excess in three districts. The cumulative storage in all the major reservoirs is 547.22 tmc ft as on February 19.

At this time last year it was 327.90 tmc ft. Total area sown in the state is 68.05 lakh acres as against the season normal of 63.54 lakh acres. Data show 68.05 lakh acres of crops have been sown so far, which is 5.65 lakhs acres more than the corresponding sowing time of the previous season.

The department report shows that the state received 30 per cent excess rainfall during the southwest monsoon, totalling 962.6 mm, compared to the normal of 738.6 mm. Good rains in late September and early October created favourable conditions for sowing yasangi season crops.

Kodanda Reddy said, “My appeal against digging fresh bore wells was meant to warn amid media reports of suicides by aggrieved farmers. The suggestion is only for those dependent on ground water for their cultivation.”