GUNTUR: Low priority to plugging of breaches on drains has contributed to losses in horticultural crops in the Krishna delta region in Guntur district.

Twenty-four breaches on Nallamada drain, the largest of the 30 drains in Bapatla, Repalle and Chilakaluripet areas, and 20 breaches on other irrigation channels has also led to paddy crops getting inundated in 51,487 acres and cotton in 25,772 acres. Loss to horticulture crops due to heavy rains in September and continuous rain for 15 days from October 3 was enormous with 7,750 acres of banana crop getting damaged and 2,552 hectares of chilli and 2,520 hectares of turmeric remaining under water during this period.

Paddy worst hit

The paddy crop was the worst affected due to breaches and water is stagnant for the last 20 days as fields are getting flooded even today due to heavy flows in the canals and drains due to rains in the upper reaches in Maharashtra and water coming to the NSP canals.

Agriculture experts point out that while good cotton yield was expected, the situation has got reversed with black cotton soil remaining moist for 15 days.

The yield is likely to drop significantly. There was no pest attack this year till October 3, but the climatic was just right for wilting of cotton plants, floral pot and button boll drops.

The situation will improve only if there is continuous drying for 15 days, but in the current situation when drizzling is continuing, farmers in many mandals have reported diseases like black arm and attack of plant borer, leaf-eating caterpillar (latte purugu), Joint Director Agriculture P. Ajith Kumar has said.

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