North AP stares at drought-like situation
Proposals have been sent to commissioner for alternative crop planning
Unprecedented in any rainy season in the north Andhra districts, the farmers of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts have been experiencing drought and dry weather conditions in the ongoing kharif season. The farmers in the three districts have lost hope as the crops are drying.
Vizianagaram district is facing almost drought-like situation. Out of 34 mandals in the district, 32 have been suffering deficit and scanty rainfall. In Srikakulam, out of 38 mandals, deficit rainfall scanty rainfall.
In Visakhapatnam, the main vegetation activity mandals, including Hukumpeta Araku, Madugula, G. Madugula, K. Kotapadu, Anandapuram, Bheemili, Paravada, Sabbavaram, Nakkapalli and Payakaraopeta are facing deficit rainfall.
Visakhapatnam Urban and Rural and Atchutapuram mandals are also facing trouble due to scanty rainfall. In Visakhapatnam district, 15 mandals face a rainfall deficit.
The Vizianagaram district 19 and have five administration has started damage control measures and directed officials to create awareness among farmers to turn to alternative crops.
Paddy is being cultivated in 1,22,997 hectares every year. This has been limited to 77,000 hectares. Due to poor rainfall, even this crop is drying up. As there are no water sources, only 50 per cent of other crops have been sown against the total extent of 1.8 lakh hectares.
Proposals have been sent to commissioner of agriculture for alternative crop planning and seeds. The district resource centre is conducting training programmes with farmers on alternative crops as a part of drought relief measures, said joint collector, Vizianagaram, Dr G.C.
Kishore Kumar.
The soil should be completely wet by end of August. Even in midSeptember, there are no rains and the soil is dry. Farmers are not entering the fields as there is no work without water, lamented K. Appala Naidu of Gantyada mandal, Vizianagaram district.One or two spells of rains are not useful to the kharif and this year most mandals are losing cultivation, Naidu assessed. ANCHOR: Spot: The Centre said it has no role to decide the number of capitals and their location in a state.
PADDY IS being cultivated in 1,22,997 hectares every year. This has been limited to 77,000 hectares. Due to poor rainfall, even this crop is drying up. As there are no water sources, only 50 per cent of other crops have been sown against the total extent of 1.8 lakh hectares.