With the reservoirs and tanks brimming, buoyant farmers have started transplanting operation in the district and the Agriculture Department is expecting a 42 per cent increase in the area of cultivation this rabi season when compared to the average acreage of the district.
Speaking to The Hindu , Joint Director Agriculture B. Narasimha Rao said that they were expecting the rabi acreage of the district would go up by a whopping 108 per cent this year when compared to the last year.
“The farmers undertook cultivation in 1,26,375 hectares last rabi season against the district average of 1,84,488 hectares. With all the reservoirs full to their capacities, we have set the rabi acreage target at 2, 63,100 hectares this year,” he said. He further said with the paddy transplanting operation picking up in the district, the acreage is expected to be 2.15 lakh hectares, nearly 81 per cent of the target, followed by ground nut (20,000 hectares), black gram (5,000 hectares), jowar (4,500 hectares), horse gram and cow pea (3,500 hectares).
Crop loans Referring to the agricultural credit scenario, Mr. Narasimha Rao said the crops loan target for this rabi season has been set at Rs. 4.33 crore, adding that given the spurt in acreage, the Agriculture Department had urged the bankers to increase the lending to farmers at least by 30 per cent.
Stating that they had already distributed 49,000 quintals of paddy seeds to farmers, the JDA said that they were planning to provide more planting material to the meet the demnad.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation officials have released water from Nagarjunasagar, Musi reservoir and others to the respective ayacuts for the rabi crops.
