After two years of irregular and insufficient rains, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have started off the kharif season with a smile.

Into the third week of monsoon, the State received 23 per cent more rain this year as against deficits in the last two years.

All but four districts registered either average or excel rainfall. Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Nellore and Kurnool showed a deficit of up to 59 per cent in rainfall.

Storage levels in major dams barring Nagarjunasagar, however, remain a worry.

The Agriculture Department expects higher acreage in oilseed crops as rains arrived on time.

Initial reports suggest good gains by cotton, maize, red gram and soya.

Acreage

“We expect a slight drop in cotton acreage this year when compared to last year’s 22 lakh hectares. It might settle at the season average of 18 lakh ha,” an official of Agriculture Ministry told Business Line .

Cotton sowings covered an extent of four lakh ha as on June 19, as against three lakh ha same day last year. The season average for that day is two lakh ha.

“We are projecting a demand for 1.31 crore packets of cottonseed this year. We have positioned enough stocks to meet the demand,” Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana said. But farmers’ associations expect shortage of seeds of a few varieties that are in great demand. “The government has long stopped development and procurement of seeds.

“It has completely left the business to private companies,” Rama Rao, a leader of Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, told Business Line .

Groundnut, which suffered heavily last year, showed signs of come back this kharif by meeting the as-on-date target of one lakh hectares, meeting the season average.

The State grows groundnut in 12 lakh ha.

Soya made good gains by witnessing sowings in 34,000 ha as against a naught last year.

kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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