Agricultural operations slowed down last week with a sudden dip in rainfall. Andhra Pradesh received 76% less rainfall in August (August 1 to 6). Though the monsoon was strong in the first month, it became weaker in the second and third months. Twenty per cent rainfall deficit was recorded in July, but normal rainfall was recorded in June this kharif season.
The rainfall figures are not very much better for the entire season (from June 1). Kadapa recorded a 64% deficit of rainfall. The deficit of other districts in percentage are: Nellore (55), Prakasam (53), Kurnool (43), Anantapur (42), Chittoor (41), Guntur (32) and Vizianagaram (22). The only two districts to register excess rainfall are West Godavari 27 % and East Godavari 26%. Krishna, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam received normal rainfall. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a review meet on Monday said deficit rainfall was recorded in 264 mandals in the State.
Heat projection
According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, heat Index projections temperatures would be normal in only 88 mandals in the next seven days.
The two organisations asked people to be cautious in 560 mandals and extremely cautions in 22 mandals. According to the State Heat Index, people in 15 mandals of Srikakulam have been asked to be extremely cautious and people in the remaining 23 mandals have been asked to be cautions.
People have been asked to be cautious of the heat in all 34 mandals of Vizianagaram, 38 mandals of Visakhapatnam, 63 of East Godavari, 48 of West Godavari, 50 of Krishna, 50 of Guntur, 53 of Prakasam, 46 of Nellore 43 of Chittoor, 50 of Kadapa in the next seven days.
Temperatures as high as 42.8 degrees Celsius have been predicted in Polaki, Amadalavalasa, Narasannapeta, Gara and Srikakulam of Srikakulam district on August 10.
Sowing
Sowing was slower when compared to the corresponding period in the kharif season, Agricultural Department officers said.