Under the influence of the depression in the Bay of Bengal, widespread rains were received all over the Nellore district in the past 24 hours with the southeastern mandals like Tada and Sullurupeta witnessing higher rainfall.
The farmers are expecting these rains to be very beneficial as they go for paddy transplantation for the early kharif season in an extent of nearly 1.5 lakh acres in the Penna delta and some of the upland areas like Atmakur as well.
As of now, the farmers are raising nurseries in over 50,000 hectares with arrangements being made for the transplantations soon.
Moderate rains were received on Tuesday with an average rainfall of 6 mm recorded in the district. Tada mandal received the highest rainfall of 47 mm during the day. The other mandals that received most part of these rains were Sullurupeta, Balayapalli, Kota, Nayudupeta, Gudur, Chillakur and Venkatagiri.
The Agriculture Department officials are closely monitoring the rainfall situation as the meteorological officials earlier forecast heavy rains if the depression in the bay intensifies.
“As on today, there is no damage to the crops due to the rains. Moreover, these rains will be very much helpful to the crops in the early kharif season from June to September this year,” said Joint Director of Agriculture K. Hema Maheswara Rao.
The rains have also raised hopes of farmers who are going for sowing of groundnut crop in over 3,000 hectares in the district.
Mr. Maheswara Rao said that all steps were being taken to ensure supply of enough fertilizer to the farmers in the coming season. He further said that it would be too early to say whether the crops would be affected if there were heavy rains in the coming few days.
Ch. Koti Reddy, president of the Nellore District Farmers’ Association, said that the farmers would be less dependent on the Somasila reservoir waters if the rains were received for a few more days. Optimum utilisation of the water in canals and ponds could be possible because of the rains, he added.
He said that 10 per cent of the farmers were yet to cut their paddy harvest in the district and their prospects might be affected because of the present rains.
Precautionary measures
Meanwhile, the district administration began taking precautionary measures in view of the depression and forecast of heavy rains. The fishermen in the coastal villages were asked not to venture out into the sea in the next two to three days.
These rains will be very much helpful to the crops in the early kharif season from June to September this year
K. Hema Maheswara Rao
Joint Director of Agriculture
