Dry spell deals a cruel blow to farmers

Those who went ahead and sowed their crop are trying to salvage it by watering each plant with at least a glass of water

With rains paying truant, cotton farmers here have been left to fend for themselves. Those who went ahead and sowed their crop are trying to salvage it by watering each plant with at least a glass of water.

The district witnessed only five days of rain in June, compared to 10 days in same period last year. The 53.2 mm rainfall in the district is less than half the average for the month (137.2 mm).

Farmers who tried seeking solace from agricultural officers and weather experts have been asked to wait for better days in July. Many farmers are still awaiting the opportune period to sow their crops.

Official sources say rainfall recorded for the first week of July was 11.5 mm, as against the district’s average of 55.6 mm – a deviation of minus 79.3 per cent.

Of the 50 mandals in the district, 28 received rainfall on Sunday. Bachhannepet mandal recorded the most rainfall in the district with 102.2 mm of rainfall, while Cheriyal recorded 50.6 mm rain.

The levels at drinking water sources in Dharmasagar, Bhadrakali and Waddepally tanks are receding to a low. Officials are planning to draw water from the Manair dam in Karimnagar to fill these summer storage tanks so as to meet the drinking water needs of the cities of Warangal, Hanamkonda and Kazipet.