Uncertainty over kharif yield in upland areas

Pithapuram: Acute drought conditions are prevailing in the upland areas of East Godavari district due to scanty rainfall. Paddy sowing in kharif has not been completed even though it is the last week of August. Thousands of small and marginal farmers are in a state of uncertainty as they are not sure of raising kharif crops and reaping a good yield.

Paddy crop is cultivated in 52,000 acres under Yeleru reservoir, in 32,000 acres under Pithapuram Branch Canal and in 20,000 acres under the Pushkara Lift Irrigation Scheme in the upland areas. At present, there is only 4.5 tmc ft of water in Yeleru reservoir against its full capacity of 24 tmc ft. About 5.5 tmc ft water is needed for kharif crops in the upland areas.

Though drawing of water from Pithapuram Branch Canal to the Yeleru ayacut was permitted, it is not adequate to meet the irrigation needs of farmers. Paddy is yet to be sown in hundreds of hectares in Pithapuram, Gollaprolu and Kothapalli mandals. In areas where the crop has been sowed, the saplings are withering due to lack of water. In some areas, the agricultural fields have become completely dry and developed cracks.

The supply of Yeleru water to Pithapuram will begin on August 27 after meeting the irrigation needs of Kirlampudi. Joint Director of Agriculture K N V Prasad, Deputy Director Rama Rao and Assistant Director Padmasri inspected the dried fields in Kandarada and Kumarapuram villages on Tuesday.

The officials urged the farmers who had sown paddy, to take adequate measures to protect their crop till they get irrigation water. In areas where paddy was yet to be sown, they advised farmers to go in for direct seeding and save precious time and cultivation costs. Diesel pump sets would be provided to small and marginal farmers at a subsidy to enable them to irrigate their crops, said the officials.