Farmers anxious over scanty rainfall in erstwhile Adilabad

Farmers across the erstwhile Adilabad district are worried over deficient rainfall despite the onset of the southwest monsoon. Poor rains have affected crop growth and cotton seed germination, forcing some farmers to consider re-sowing and incur additional expenses.

Adilabad: Farmers of the erstwhile Adilabad district readied their agricultural fields and had sown cotton seeds, believing that rains would lash the district by the first week of June. However, they are now anxious over the scanty rainfall recorded in the region so far.

Expecting bountiful rains with the onset of the southwest monsoon, farmers tilled their farms to raise paddy and other crops in Adilabad, Mancherial, Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Nirmal districts during this Vanakalam season. Some of the farmers have already sown cotton seeds. They are purchasing urea, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and complex fertilisers.

As per the weather report on the website of the Telangana Development Planning Society, Adilabad district recorded an average rainfall of 55.1 mm as against the normal rainfall of 117 mm from June 1 to 21, reflecting a deficit of 53 per cent. Mancherial district recorded 44.4 mm of rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 116.5 mm, posting a deficit of 62 per cent.

Similarly, Kumram Bheem Asifabad district received 53.9 mm of rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 127.9 mm, showing a deficit of 58 per cent, while Nirmal district registered 55.1 mm of rainfall compared to the normal rainfall of 117.8 mm, indicating a deficit of 53 per cent.

Except for Sonala, Tamsi and Thalamadugu mandals, the remaining 18 mandals of Adilabad district reeled under large deficient rainfall ranging from 60 to 99 per cent.

Alarmingly, nine mandals in Mancherial district, including Jannaram, Dandepalli, Hajipur, Bheemini, Nennal, Mancherial, Naspur, Chennur and Kotapalli, witnessed severe rainfall deficit. Seven mandals, namely Jainoor, Rebbena, Wankidi, Kagaznagar, Chintalamanepalli, Bejjur and Dahegaon, recorded large deficient rainfall. Six mandals in Nirmal district, namely Basar, Nirmal Rural, Mamada, Khanapur, Kadem and Dasturabad, also experienced large deficient rainfall.

Cotton farmers are planning to sow the seeds again due to poor germination caused by scanty rainfall. They argued that the activity would result in an additional financial burden.