With the onset of monsoon and early rainfall in various parts of Karimnagar district in the first week of this month, farmers have launched agricultural activities. The farmers of the district, who faced several hardships due to drought for two consecutive years, are expecting a good rainfall and have intensified their farm activities. Besides, the desiltation of the minor irrigation tanks under the Mission Kakatiya programme and taking up of other rain harvesting structures had also boosted the morale of farmers and are expecting a complete recharge of ground water table. During the last kharif season, farmers cultivated crops in only 3.43 lakh hectares against the normal area of cultivation on 5.2 lakh hectares. This year, the Agricultural Department is expecting cultivation on 5.15 lakh hectares. The authorities are also encouraging farmers to go in for ID (irrigation dry) crops instead of cotton crop. Against the normal area of cultivation of cotton in 2.26 lakh hectares during the kharif season, the authorities expect cotton to be cultivated only on 1.62 lakh hectares due to their awareness programmes. Maize cultivation would be increased from the normal area of 53,799 hectares to 83,669 hectares, soya cultivation would be increased to 31,761 hectares from the normal area of 9,744 hectares. Similarly, the green gram cultivation would be increased from 4,579 hectares to 10,742 hectares. The red gram cultivation would also increase from 5,422 hectares to 13,241 hectares. Even as the government has been educating farmers to go in for ID crops such as maize, pulses etc, the authorities have failed to provide adequate quantity of seed to farmers.
