#Monsoon 2020: Andhra Pradesh Farmers Set 39.59 Lakh Hectare Crop Cultivation Target

#Monsoon 2020: Due to the onset of monsoon in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Kharif crop cultivation is rapidly picking up momentum. The cultivation target for all crops including food grains, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane and other crops in Kharif season is at 39.59 lakh hectares as against the normal crop acreage of 37.54 lakh hectares.

Farmers are now hopeful of reaping another bumper crop yield this season with the met department predicting a normal monsoon this year. All the major reservoirs in the Andhra have been holding 337.58 TMC of water as of June 3 as against 196.76 TMC on the same day last year. Therefore, the State may not face any irrigation water problem during Kharif season.

#Monsoon 2020 Andhra Pradesh

Monsoon entered Andhra on Sunday, but, farmers started sowing operations for Kharif season from June 1. Interestingly, in the first three days itself, 0.58 lakh hectares was sown, i.e. 1.5% of the normal extent of area cultivated during Kharif. Sowing operations in 0.55 lakh hectares normally is completed by that time.

As per agriculture officials, they have commenced seed distribution by taking village as a unit. According to the data which is available with the Agriculture department, paddy crop cultivation is at transplantation stage. However, on the other side, pulses, oilseeds & sugarcane crops are at vegetative stage.

On June 3, sowing was completed in 57,567 hectares which is against the target of 39,58,906 hectares. Nellore district having 35,534 hectares of sowing of seeds stands top which is followed by Chittoor with 11,510 hectares, Krishna having 4,666 hectares & Anantapur with 3,039 hectares. However, sowing operations are yet to start in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari, Praksam, Kadapa and Kurnool districts.