In what could be termed a disturbing trend, the pulse acreage has gone down drastically in East Godavari district, with a few farmers opting for the short-term crop for various reasons. The farmers in the Central and Eastern delta areas cultivate black gram and green gram post-rabi season that keep them engaged before the kharif crop season begins, apart from fetching considerable income.
There has been a steady drop in the pulse acreage for the last four to five years due to various reasons. According to the statistics available with Agriculture Department, the pulse acreage in the district, which is once used to be around 50,000 hectare, has gone down to 5,000 hectares this summer. Farmers attributed this to various reasons such as delay in the schedule of rabi, untimely rains and long-term closure of canals to facilitate delta modernisation works. Farmers say that cost of cultivation of pulses has gone up significantly and seeds available in the market are not suitable for the soil profile of the district. Rise in seed cost and labour charges and lack of market facility for the produce are some of the other reasons, they say.
“Most of the farmers now feel that it is better to take rest in the summer, instead of opting for pulses,” says Medisetti Venkateswara Rao, a farmer from Tallarevu village.
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Deputy Director of Agriculture N. Vijay Kumar admits that the farmers have been complaining that the available seed varieties are not suitable for the soil conditions here. “We have informed the same to the agricultural scientists and are waiting for their response,” he says.
Sowing of pulses must be completed by the end of March, so that the farmers could get a better yield. “For this, the calendar has to be followed strictly for the opening and closure of canals,” points out Mr. N. Vijay Kumar.