The dry spell continues in the new year as the State has recorded a rainfall deficit of 32.5% in the period between June 1 in 2018, the beginning of agricultural season, and January 23 this year. Statistics available with the Commissionerate of Agriculture suggest that the State has received only 580.7 mm of precipitation when compared to the normal of 859.8 mm.
The State recorded a rainfall deficit of 18% during the south-west monsoon season last year, between June and September. The same increased to 58% by the December during the north-east monsoon season. No rain was received at all from Janaury 1, with the State recording a rainfall deficit of 100% during the period, according to data released by the Commissionerate of Agriculture.
Coastal Andhra no better
As expected, the rainfall deficit in Rayalaseema is higher than the rest of the State. The region registered the highest rainfall deficit of 50.5 %. The other regions too do not seem to be any better. South Coastal Andhra Pradesh recorded a deficit of 41.9% while the same for the Coastal Andhra Pradesh has been put at 23.5%.
Interestingly, Prakasam district has recorded the highest rainfall deficit of 58.9%, followed by Kadapa in Rayalaseema (58.7%). Srikakulam is the only district in the State to record a rain surplus of a meagre 1.3%.
The districts with a rainfall deficit of more than 40% includes Nellore (54.6%), Kurnool (50.5%), Anantapur (47%) and Chittoor (46.2%). However, the rainfall deficit of the North Coastal Andhra is relatively less at 10.9%.
