Farmers gearing up for second crop

Vizianagaram: Farmers in the district are on cloud nine, thanks to abundant availability of water. Moida Ramana, a small farmer from Vallapuram village in Gurla mandal in Vizianagaram district, is now busy in crop cutting arrangements in his 3.50 acres paddy field.

He is planning to cultivate second crop due to availability of adequate quantity of water in the Mushidi Banda tank which is the main source of irrigation for his agricultural field.

Not only Ramana but also many other farmers in this village are busy preparing for the next crop. This is the situation in the villages in many parts of Cheepurupalli area due to the supply of water to tanks from Thotapalli Project. This project raised hopes of reviving farming activity in this region.

Productivity of paddy was enhanced for kharif crop by 10 per cent this year, said Joint Director of Agriculture Viziangaram GSNS Leelavathi. Earlier, 14 bags of paddy were produced per acre in Cheepurupalle mandal but it was increased to 27 bags per acre after supply of water from Thotapalli Project, she said.

Not only increase in productivity, the extent of area has also been increased in several areas due to timely supply of water during this kharif, she added. Earlier, crops were sown in 60 hectares at Devada village before supply of water from Thotapalli project.

After supply of water from Thotapalli project, sown area was increased to 85 hectares, says Tenela Venkatesh, a farmer from this village. He is also planning three crops in his five acres field this year.

Other crops were also benefitted by the supply of water from Thotapalli project. The productivity and yield per hectare of cotton and pulses were also increased in this area, says Dakarapu Balaraju, a farmer from Sundarada village of Therlam mandal.

He is growing cotton in his five acres field for the past many years. Productivity levels of cotton was increased from nine quintals to 14 quintals per acre. He is getting additional income of Rs 13,000 per acre due to increase of productivity.

It is possible through the determined efforts of the engineers of Thotapalli project under the supervision of District Collector Vivek Yadav, said superintending engineer of the project D Tirumala Rao.

He said 31,935 acres of tank and canal ayacut irrigated through filling of 338 tanks in Balijipeta, Therlam, Garividi, Cheepurupalle, Gurla, Nellimara and Pusapatirega mandals this year. He was happy that they were able to supply water to the full ayacut even without completing the field canals, he added.

Ground water levels also increased in this area due to filling of tanks through canals of Thotapalli. Speaking to The Hans India here on Sunday, District Collector Vivek Yadav said that the government was giving top priority to the agriculture sector and protecting the interests of farmers.

“Providing seeds at subsidy prices, supplying water on time and conducting training classes are the major activities being taken up by us”, he added.