The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Dry spell hits sowing in Mahabubnagar district

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Dry spell hits sowing in Mahabubnagar district

By Our Correspondent

MAHABUBNAGAR, JUNE 29. Summer-like conditions prevailing in this perennially drought-hit district this rainy season are going to greet the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who is expected here on Thursday.

The district is experiencing a long dry spell during the crucial sowing season bringing farming activities to a standstill.

Peasants had started sowing various crops after unexpected rain in April and May. The district had received 24.4 mm of rain in April as against the normal of 6.3 mm and 38.5 mm in May against the normal 22.9 mm.

According to officials of the Agriculture Department farmers had sown seed in 15 percent of the area normally under cultivation in the kharif season in May anticipating good rain in June too.

Jowar was sown in 26,587 acres against 1,20,384 acres of normal area, bajra in 6,234 acres against 15,734 acres and maize in 6,895 acres against 42,422 acres. While red gram, generally cultivated in 58,401 acres, was sown in 13,562 acres, green gram was sown in 21,367 acres against 43,173 acres and castor seed was sown in 25,687 acres against a normal area of 1,55, 654 acres. Cotton was sown in 14,695 acres against the normal cultivation area of 59,123.

However, the district received only 20.8 mm rainfall in June against the normal rainfall of 71.2 mm. Over 35 mandals in the district received sporadic rain between June 6 and 12 but from June 13 the district has been experiencing a dry spell.

According to reports crops raised so far have almost dried up. Agriculture officials estimated the loss at Rs. 16 corers.

There are 654 tanks under the Irrigation Department with an ayacut of 59,624 hectares and 5,538 tanks under the Panchayat Raj Department with an ayacut of 16 889 hectares, but due to insufficient rain so far not even an acre of the land under the tanks has been cultivated.

Over 1,09,711 hectares of land is being cultivated under the 1,08,200 agriculture bore wells but many of them are either only partially in use or dried up as the district due to scanty rainfall in the district over the last three years. It is said that only 900 hectares have been cultivated so for under the bore wells.

The district administration is preparing a comprehensive report of the drought conditions in the district to submit it to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

MLAs and MPs of the district have decided to urge the Prime Minister to announce a special package to the district in view of the adverse seasonal conditions.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Steps to expedite trial of post-poll violence cases

Pesticide exposure claims another child labourer's life

Heated debate over law and order

Time-bound probe into Sri Lakshmi case promised

Make lending rate to SHGs uniform, YSR tells Centre

Dry spell hits sowing in Mahabubnagar district

Housewife commits suicide; SI, cops face villagers' ire

Government to consult parties on Supreme Court Bench

Power project will go on even if BPL backs out: Rosaiah

Sinking a record, staying afloat

2 ryots end lives

Uproar over motion on GO 610

GCC target

Briefly