Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Scanty rainfall hits sowing operations

KURNOOL: Scanty rainfall hit sowing operations in Kurnool district. During the month, the district recorded a shortfall of 55 per cent.

As against 5.37 lakh hectares, only 36,223 hectares is covered with crops. Last year during the corresponding period, 51,565 hectares was covered.

The prolonged dry spell caused withering of the crops. Meanwhile, as per the initial trends available, more and more farmers are going for castor, cotton, red gram, chilli and onion while groundnut and sunflower are likely to lose the area drastically this year.

Paddy area is also going down due to poor prices this season. Joint Director of Agriculture, S. Venkateswarlu, said there is no problem for cotton seed despite the heavy demand in the district. As against the demand of 1.70 lakh packets, the administration sourced 1.80 lakh packets and even now 21,290 packets are available, he said.

He advised farmers to buy any brand of Bt Cotton suggested by the agriculture officials rather than insisting upon a particular brand.

Mr. Venkateswarlu said 40,000 tonnes of chemical fertilizer is available with the private dealers and government-owned Markfed. Of it, 8,038 tonnes of DAP, 17,139 tonnes of complex fertilizer, 9,222 tonnes of urea and 2,974 tonnes of MoP is stocked.

Mr. Venkateswarlu said the Agriculture Department embarked upon a mission for judicious application chemical fertilizer for protecting soil and reducing investment. The department mapped various mandals and identified areas with high and low levels of phosphorous, potash and nitrogen.

Farmers would benefit to a great extent if chemicals are sprayed as per the recommendations. A guide was published for farmers and officers giving the information of soil conditions and management practices for various crops.

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