Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082203421900.htm

Back Rainfall in AP short of normal figures

Our Bureau

With the failure of monsoon to arrive on time, the total crop area for the kharif season was just 52 per cent of the normal area of 77.92 lakh hectares. Only one district received excess rainfall, two witnessed normal .

Hyderabad , Aug. 21

Notwithstanding unprecedented rains that resulted in severe floods to major rivers, the agricultural scenario in Andhra Pradesh looks grim with the total rainfall still falling short of the normal figures.

The shortfall has drastically affected the total area sown across almost all the crops. Only one district in the State received excess rainfall, two witnessed normal and the rest of the districts registered deficit rainfall.

Only Vizianagaram district recorded excess rainfall. As against the normal 316 mm it received 370.6 mm As on August 1, the State received rainfall of 209.3 mm as against the normal 306 mm. While coastal Andhra received 224.6 mm (284.5 mm), Rayalaseema received 133.8 mm (172.4 mm) and Telangana 226.6 mm (378.8 mm).

With the failure of monsoon to arrive on time, the total crop area for the kharif season was just 52 per cent of the normal area of 77.92 lakh hectares. At 40.7 lakh ha, the total crop area was lower than last year's 56.41 lakh ha.

Paddy was one of the worst hit with a total area of 5.31 lakh ha as against the normal of 22.77 lakh ha. This was against last kharif's 8.14 lakh ha. On the whole, the total foodgrain cover was 18.42 lakh ha as against the normal of 41.32 lakh ha.

Isolated rains slowed down sowing of crops such as maize, groundnut and cotton. While the normal area sown under dry crops was 52.75 lakh ha, sowings were completed in just 32.83 lakh ha, 62 per cent of the normal area.

There is, however, a silver lining. Thanks to the downpour in several districts, groundwater levels have shot up significantly. Also, several reservoirs are brimming with water.