HYDERABAD
Although the area sown or transplanted with kharif crops by early July exceeded last year’s level, the season’s prospects look poor. More than 63 percent of mandals, or 382 out of 605, in the 32 rural districts are affected by monsoon failure, raising worries over yields and farm output.
Forecasts of below-normal rain for the rest of July have further clouded expectations. All major, medium and minor reservoirs remain empty because catchment areas have received little precipitation. Agriculture Department data show kharif sowing has covered 55.32 lakh acres, compared with 52.04 lakh acres at the same time last year.
Cotton occupies the largest share at 39.44 lakh acres, followed by paddy on 4.22 lakh acres, soybean on 3.35 lakh acres, redgram on 3.19 lakh acres, maize on 2.84 lakh acres and pulses on 46,000 acres.
Rainfall records indicate 68 mandals received large deficient rainfall, 20 to 99 percent below normal, while 327 mandals are in the deficient category. Another 181 mandals recorded normal rainfall, though most still fell up to 19 percent short. Only 45 mandals saw excess or large excess rain, mainly scattered across seven districts. Statewide rainfall is 25 percent below average. Hanumakonda is the worst affected district, and 24 others plus Hyderabad also recorded shortfalls.
Last year’s good rains kept groundwater stress low, with levels at 9.46 meters below ground in June, nearly unchanged from the previous year.
The Agriculture Department is preparing contingency seed supplies for alternative crops if the monsoon remains weak through mid-July.
