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Drought persists in Kurnool dist
Drought is ruling the roost in Kurnool district. The State team had identified 45 of the 54 mandals as drought-affected. Officials estimate that 422 villages are facing fodder shortage. Due to deficit rainfall, farmers have suffered heavily. There was untimely rain prior to the Kharif season, with thunderstorms dashing their hopes. When they were hopeful of some crop yielding thunderstorms led to water-logging of the yield
Drought is ruling the roost in Kurnool district. The State team had identified 45 of the 54 mandals as drought-affected. Officials estimate that 422 villages are facing fodder shortage.
Due to deficit rainfall, farmers have suffered heavily. There was untimely rain prior to the Kharif season, with thunderstorms dashing their hopes. When they were hopeful of some crop yielding thunderstorms led to water-logging of the yield.
The situation in the Rabi season was no better as debt-ridden farmers got ready for it. Their hopes were once again dashed as there was not even minimum rain. With ryots facing a crisis and unable to find fodder, their cattle are either being moved to slaughter houses or being sold at low prices. Although the situation in Nandyal is slightly better, thousands of cattle are being shifted to the weekly markets in areas like Pathikonda, Aluru and Adoni for distress sale.
Of the 28 lakh animal population in the district, sheep account for 15 lakh, five lakh goats and four lakh each are buffaloes and cows. The sheep/goat-rearing communities are migrating for feeding their animals. Lack of fodder is likely to severely impact the dairy sector, fear the Rythu Sangham leaders.
Because of the deficit rainfall farmers had opted for commercial crops like cotton, sunflower and castor, even as there was a severe shortage of fodder. There was no sign of paddy cultivation. During the previous years they had chosen crops like paddy, jowar, groundnut, foxtail millet, with the hope of securing fodder. There was a time when the paddy farmer was a hope for the cattle breeders.
With the stress on commercial crops, farmers were not able to get sufficient fodder. While groundnut was raised in 2.5 lakh hectares, jowar was cultivated in one lakh hectares. Castor and foxtail millet were also raised in significant areas. As a result of the deficit rainfall the groundnut crop cultivation fell drastically. With no water available in irrigation projects the groundnut and jowar crops were damaged.
