Despite heavy downpour in many places, the state is facing a four per cent shortfall in rains this monsoon. The state average cumulative rainfall from June 1 till date was 238.1 mm as against the normal of 247.8 mm, the commissioner for disaster management said on Tuesday. Hyderabad district received the highest rainfall of 389.6 mm during the period as against a normal of 224.6 mm, or 73 per cent in excess.
Rains improve sowing across AP
Fairly widespread rains have bettered the prospects of sowing considerably across the state. The total area sown in Andhra Pradesh as on Tuesday was 37.06 lakh hectares as against the normal of 44.43 lakh hectares by this time. The total area under Kharif this season is 80.29 lakh hectares, said an agriculture department official. “We expect sowing to improve further in view of fairly good rains,” the official added.
Krishna district received excess rainfall at 396.1 mm against a normal of 262 mm, or 51 per cent more. Other districts that have received good rainfall include Ranga Reddy, Guntur, Chittoor, Srikakulam, Prakasam, West Godavari, Medak and Khammam. The districts which are short on rainfall are Karimnagar, Visakhapatnam, Nizamabad, Ananthapur and Adilabad. Reservoirs are largely empty and the present levels were less compared to last year except at Singur.