HYDERABAD: A 40 per cent rainfall deficit in Andhra Pradesh has made the Government identify the seven districts of Medak, Kadapa, Chittoor, Anantapur, Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar and Nalgonda as `severely affected' by drought. It has recognised five more districts — Prakasam, Khammam, Warangal, Kurnool and Mahabubnagar — as `moderately affected'.

Till July 25, the rainfall received in the State was 162 mm against the normal 268 mm. Consequently, sowings could be taken up in an area of only 29 lakh hectares hile crops over 4.5 lakh ha are withering.

However, Tuesday night's rain, which was heavy and widespread, might bring about a dramatic change in the situation, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said while reviewing the seasonal conditions with district Collectors and agriculture officers at a video-conference here on Wednesday. Going by the feedback from the Meteorological department, he said the State would get rain from July 29 due to the low pressure area.

Dr. Reddy appealed to farmers not to lose heart and to draw the Government's attention to their problems through the State-level call centre (Phone No 1100). "The Government is yours and ready to act," he said. He asked the Collectors to instil confidence in farmers by launching contingency plans to sow alternative crops such as sunflower. The Collectors informed him that there was no drinking water or fodder shortage in the districts.

The Chief Minister said the storages in Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar were better this year and in Somasila and Kandaleru all right. However, the position in Sriramsagar and other projects in the Godavari basin where crops had been sown in 10 lakh acres was "distressing". He advised farmers to be ready with plans for August rain, adopt SRI method of cultivation and go in for horticultural crops like mango and lime.

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