Sowing operations in Anantapur district have been badly hit during the current kharif season as the southwest monsoon failed yet again in the first two months recording (-) 43.7% deficit rainfall from June 1 to July 27. The sowing of various crops in the district as on Saturday was 17.9% of the normal area with only 1,26,457 hectares getting covered against 7,08,203 hectares.
Joint Director of Agriculture Habib Basha, expressing concern over the slow pace of sowing due to lack of rain in the majority of the 63 mandals in the district, said that only Raptadu, Chilamattur, Gudibanda, Lepakshi, Rolla, Dharmavaram and Agali registered sowing close to 50% of the normal area or above.
While the groundnut seed distribution was completed with several hiccups and diversion of subsidised seeds at 20 places, the seed was sufficient to sow in 1.75 lakh hectares. If there were rains, farmers would have bought it from the market and fulfilled the remaining two-thirds requirement, observed Mr. Basha.
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Quality check
“We are focussing on the quality of seeds and fertilizers and conducting surprise checks at several private outlets in the district. Cases are being registered against those found compromising on quality or trying to sell fake seeds,” he added.
The Agriculture Department had been taking the help of vigilance officials and police personnel in streamlining the sale of seeds and fertilizers to ensure the right quantities reached farmers in time, the official said.
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The district administration readied a contingency plan and an alternative crop plan was being popularised among farmers. They were being encouraged to sow castor, red gram, Bengal gram, foxtail or any other millet that needed low quantum of water, with good yield potential, he added.
The Agriculture Department would distribute seeds as per the contingency plan from August 1. The required stocks were kept at suitable places for distribution to farmers for alternative crops, said Agriculture Officer Somasekhar.