Date:29/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/29/stories/2008092954890600.htm

Back

Andhra Pradesh

Farm operations in full swing

Staff Reporter

Acreage under chilli comes down and cotton goes up

Paddy yield is expected to touch a record 1,500 kg
Rain, market yard fire force ryots to take up cotton cultivation

— Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

CROP SEASON: A stretch of cotton field resembles a green carpet near Narsaraopet.

GUNTUR: Agricultural operations have picked up momentum in the district following copious rainfall in the month of August and September. While transplantation of paddy is in full swing in both the Krishna Western delta and the Palnadu region, sowing of chilli is in progress. Cultivation of cotton has progressed to the boil formation stage.

Cultivation of various crops up to the week ending September 24 has touched 5.48 lakh hectares as against 5.30 lakh hectares during the corresponding period in 2007-2008. But, it is slightly lower than the normal area sown during kharif, which is 5.78 lakh hectares.

Buoyant situation

Agricultural officials are buoyed by the increase in the acreage of paddy, which has reached 2,56,795 hectares up to the week ending September 24 as against 2.50 lakh hectares during the corresponding period in 2007-2008. Buoyed by the steep increase in MSP of paddy, which is now hovering around Rs.1,000 per quintal, farmers have taken up cultivation of paddy in a big way.

The normal area sown during kharif is 2,54,349 hectares.

The productivity of paddy is expected to touch 1,500 kg per hectare, which too is an all-time high.

Significantly, the area sown for chilli has come down to 51,892 acres as against 53,921 acres during the corresponding period in 2007-2008, while the acreage of cotton has increased from 1,48,951 acres to 1,66,858 acres. Faced with losses due to unprecedented rainfall and the market yard fire, farmers in some areas have shown disinclination towards sowing chilli and instead have taken up cultivation of cotton, which fetches higher remunerative prices.

“We are expecting a record harvest during this kharif. The farmers have put behind all the worries over scanty rainfall and fertilizer shortage,” Joint Director of Agriculture A. Rajaiah has said.