At a time when the tail-end Chittoor district was reeling under scanty and deficit rainfall, the widespread rain in as many as 57 out of 66 mandals from Wednesday evening till Thursday morning proved to be a mixed bag for farmers.
The rainfall, with highest of 193.2 mm in Vijayapuram mandal and lowest of 3 mm in Kurabalakota mandal, was a 30% of the total of 2676.2 mm rainfall till September 19. While it was downpour in Vijayapuram, Nagari, Narayanavanam, Nindra, Chittoor, Yadamarri and Tavanampalle mandals, several eastern and western mandals received normal to excess rainfall.
The farther western mandals bordering Karnataka and Anantapur district received nil rainfall. The same situation prevailed in the four mandals of Kuppam division.
Joint Director (agriculture) N. Vijay Kumar said that the heavy rainfall during the last 24 hour had led to two issues.
“Owing to heavy soil moisture because of sudden rain, the sowing for the alternative crops will be delayed for another ten days. Secondly, in the eastern mandals the stagnant water in the fields might bring some damage if not evaporated promptly. At present, we have a vast stretch of groundnut crop for this rabi, coupled with alternative crop of horsegram. We have already supplied the seeds to the farmers,” he said.
The nil rainfall in the mandals of Kuppam, Ramakuppam, Shantipuram, Gudupalle and V. Kota mandals has a telling effect on the floriculture and sericulture activities. The groundnut crop at these mandals, which was sown last month, showed no considerable growth, worrying farmers.
Groundwater levels
Meanwhile, water scarcity has been gradually coming down in the eastern mandals, particularly in Karveti Nagaram, Puttur, Nagari, Nindra, Pitchatur, Narayanavanam and Nagalapuram, due to rains in September. The Rural Water Works officials said that there was a comfortable lift in the groundwater levels. “We are more worried about scanty and nil rainfall in some of the western mandals,” an official said.
