The sustained delay in proper onset and spread of monsoon rain has hit sowing and transplantation operations of the Vanakalam (kharif) crop season by nearly 30% as the State’s average rainfall deficit continues to be very high at 52% and with the district-wise average deficit going up to 78%.
According to the Agriculture department authorities, Vanakalam crops have been cultivated on 14.86 lakh acres as of June 28 against 20.82 lakh acres of extent covered by the same date last year — about 28.6% less this year compared to last year.
Director (Research) of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University P.Raghurami Reddy stated that the farming community need not worry about running out of time for sowing operations as many crops could be sown till July 15, and cotton, the major crop for the season, till July 20.
