With a poor monsoon, untimely rains, depleting groundwater level and non-availability of fodder wreaking havoc with agriculture this year, farmers from the western mandals of Chittoor district are pinning their hopes on the visit of a Central drought team.
The team will undertake a daylong visit on Thursday to villages in Piler, Madanapalle, Punganur, Palamaner and Thamballapalle constituencies of the semi-arid Madanapalle revenue division where cultivation has been reduced by more than half. For example, groundnut crop was sown in a mere 65,000 hectares in the district as against the kharif target of 1.70 lakh hectares. Similarly, paddy cultivation in Rabi fell to a paltry 36,000 hectares.
Central team to visit villages in Piler, Madanapalle, Punganur, Palamaner and Thamballapalle constituencies
