With only 10 days left for the south-east monsoon to withdraw, Rayalaseema recorded 39.1% deficit in rainfall, while the entire State recorded a 14.4% deficit.
Monsoon played truant this year with the State recording deficit rainfall every alternate month. While it was normal in June, it was deficit in July; normal again in August but in September the deficit went up to 34%.
Of the 274 mandals declared drought-affected, 195 are in Rayalaseema. The highest number of 66 mandals in Chittoor district had been declared drought affected, followed by 63 mandals in Anantapur, 54 mandals in Kurnool and 51 in Kadapa district.
Despite the severe deficit, farmers went ahead with sowing. The farmers of Kadapa district sowed in 90% of the normal area despite a deficit of 42.6%. In Anantapur district that recorded deficit rainfall of 33.1%, sowing was taken up in 80% of the area. Similarly in Chittoor where deficit of 30% was recorded, crop was sown in 81% of the area.
Crops hit
Standing crop in 4.78 lakh hectares cultivated by 6.93 lakh farmers was affected by drought in the Rayalaseema region. Similar is the fate in 2.19 lakh hectares cultivated by 2.72 lakh farmers in Kurnool district, according to the government. Crop in 1.57 lakh hectares cultivated by 2.24 lakh farmers was affected in Anantapur district and in 92,092 hectares cultivated by 1.78 lakh farmers in Chittoor district was affected.
