Dry spell continues in Parigi constituency
Standing crops are withering away in Parigi Assembly constituency for want of rains, which are eluding the farmer The region experienced rains during April and May, but there are no rains since the onset of the monsoon season, barring a drizzle here and drizzle there However, the rains in the summer damaged prospects of many crops
Parigi: Standing crops are withering away in Parigi Assembly constituency for want of rains, which are eluding the farmer. The region experienced rains during April and May, but there are no rains since the onset of the monsoon season, barring a drizzle here and drizzle there. However, the rains in the summer damaged prospects of many crops.
After the welcome showers in June soon after the onset of the monsoon, the farmers raised crops in 28,000 hectares, which constitutes 60-70 per cent of the area under various crops. But, crops in 20,000 hectares are facing the threat of withering away. In many cases, seeds did not germinate at all. The farmer is spending sleepless nights and eagerly awaiting the mercy of the Rain Gods. In villages, the people are visiting temples and performing marriages to frogs to appease the Rain Gods. Against the 111 mm of rainfall for June, the region experienced only 72 mm, thereby registering a deficit of 40 mm of rainfall.
Despair writ large on the farmers’ faces as there were no signs of bountiful rainfall even well past into the monsoon season. A farmer of Naskal village said that improving the crop prospects are a distant dream even if the Rain Gods were to show mercy on the farmers. The farmers borrowed thousands of rupees and invested in agriculture. The standing crops are withering away in front of the farmers’ eyes. Seeds germinated at some places and at other places they did not germinate. The farmer is virtually at the cross roads not knowing what to do.
Another farmer from Malkapur has lamented that the Rain Gods have poured cold water on farmers’ aspirations of reaping a bumper harvest. The farmer is eagerly waiting for the seeds to germinate. The sky becomes suddenly overcast, but not a single drop of rain occurs. The prospects of the crop will be ruined if there are no rains in the next two days. He said that he and other farmers are in a helpless state,.
YSRCP district president Kolla Yadaiah said in fact 80 per cent of the crops withered away in the district. He said it was high –time the government declared Vikarabad as the drought-hit district and implemented remedial measures.
BY Mohammad Wajeed
