Farmers in Telangana Asked to Defer Kharif Sowing as Monsoon Gets Delayed

Telangana Government has issued advisory urging growers not to rush into sowing. The sporadic rains of the last few days are not monsoon rains.

A spokesperson for the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) said “Going by the forecasts, rainfall in June is likely to be 60 to 70 percent lower than the average figures. But we expect 60 to 70 percent more rainfall in July & September”.

The Telangana State Agriculture Department, PJTSAU and the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture reviewed the monsoon’s status and came out with the advisory. They projected that the northern parts of the State are likely to get 50-60 % more rain in August. The southern districts are expected to receive lower than the normal rainfall.

The Kharif season is likely to see normal rainfall. Reservoirs in the Krishna basin would receive water much later than normal. The delayed monsoon has left cotton farmers disappointed. The State grows cotton on about 45 lakh acres, followed by paddy & maize.

For short-duration paddy varieties, growers have till 31 July to sow, while for medium-term varieties they can wait till 10 July. They have been asked to wait till the fields are adequately wet for rainfed crops such as cotton, soya, maize, jowar and pulses.

With regard to the cotton crop, the university suggested farmers choose hybrid varieties that give big bolls in irrigated areas. In rainfed areas, they have been advised to use seeds that give medium-size bolls. The farmers are also advised not to grow maize on light soils. Scientists at the university said Fall Armyworm might attack the maize crop. “We advise the farmers to be ready with pheromone traps and keep an eye on the worms and take necessary action to address the problem,” the university official said.