KURNOOL: Following the recent rains, farmers in the Rayalaseema region, most of whom had been worried, have become busy with sowing operations. Farmers in Kurnool, Nandyal, and YSR Kadapa districts have started taking up sowing of short-duration crops, such as black gram, groundnut, and Bengal gram.
Black gram has attracted particular interest in Kadapa and Nandyal districts. The crop can be harvested in about 90 days and requires relatively less water, making it suitable for the present conditions. Agriculture officials said farmers have already taken up black gram cultivation on around 40,000 acres in the two districts.
Farmers in the upland areas have begun preparations for sowing Bengal gram. Field preparation and application of fertilisers have already been completed in several areas. “We are hoping another good spell of rain by the end of October will give us a good yield,” said Singidi Manohar, a farmer from Gollapalle in Nandyal district.
Groundnut too is being sown on a large scale, with farmers encouraged by the prevailing high market prices for groundnut pods. They are hopeful that better prices would compensate for any possible decline in yield.
“I have taken up groundnut cultivation on three acres, spending around ₹1 lakh on sowing and other operations. The recent rains have given us confidence to go ahead with the crop,” said K. Pavan Kumar Reddy, a farmer from K. Appayapalle in Kadapa district.
Rains have come as a major relief to horticulture farmers, particularly sweet orange growers. Many orchards had been facing water shortages as borewells had dried up. Some yielded only limited quantities of water. Nandyal district alone has around 10,000 acres under sweet orange cultivation.
Flow of water into Kundu and Penna rivers following rains has helped recharge groundwater levels in areas adjoining these rivers. Farmers have started raising chilli nurseries following the rains in areas including Uyyalawada, Bodemmanur, Roopanagudi, and Allur in Allagadda constituency.
“Recent rains will help reduce the salinity of borewell water and improve the prospects of better yields. Rainfall has given confidence to farmers and they have started preparing nurseries,” said Nandyal district horticulture officer Dr. U. Nagaraju.
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