A deficit rainfall so far this monsoon and lack of water in irrigation schemes have made the situation grim for the state’s paddy cultivators, as latest reports indicate a shortfall of nearly 7-10 lakh hectares in the ongoing kharif season. According to agriculture department officials, the Krishna delta and ayacut under Nagarjuna Sagar project (NSP) are the worst hit. Though on paper certain areas could be additionally brought under paddy cultivation in the rabi season, officials said it depends on good rain before September.
According to figures collated till Wednesday, paddy has been cultivated on 14.67 hectares across the state against the season’s normal of 26.48 lakh hectares. Last year, 17.50 lakh hectares were under paddy cultivation by this time, just above the normal of 17.22 lakh hectares as of date. A senior agriculture officer told this newspaper that a maximum of another 4 lakh hectares water-intensive paddy could be added, provided there is more rain before the end of kharif season. “Going by the present scenario, there could be shortfall in paddy cultivation from 7 to 10 lakh hectares,” the official said. So far, crops have been sown on total 64.82 lakh hectares, against the normal of 68.31 lakh hectares. The season’s average for all crops is 80.29 lakh hectares. “The water levels have not increased due to inadequate rain in catchments of Krishna basin,” the official said.