Khammam farmers look forward to rains

Khammam: A dry spell in the last 20 days, caused heavy loss to the cotton growers in the district. There have been no sprouts in 1.20 lakh acre land, though the peasants sowed the seeds 15 days back.

Cotton crop is raised in 4.5 lakh acres in the district and so far seed has been sowed across 2.5 lakh acres. But, seeds have not sprouted in the 1.20 lakh acre due to dry spell. The investments of the farmers have gone a waste. These farmers are now waiting for rains to sow cotton seeds again. The dry spell, coupled with rising temperatures has caused cotton plants to wither in many mandals.

Deccan ChronicleNelakondapalli, Bonakal, Chintakani, Mudigonda, Kusumanchi, Enkoor, Julurpad, Kallur, Tallada, Madhira and Konigerla are some such mandals.

Guguloth Banu Naik, a farmer from Konigerla, came to Khammam to buy a fresh batch of cotton seeds. “No sprouts are seen in my field though I sowed cotton seeds 15 days back. I am now planning to sow the seeds the second time,” he said.

The farmers, who succeeded in getting sprouts, are working hard to sustain the plants. Some of the farmers are engaging water tankers to water the crops and save them from the scorching sun.

These farmers are speNation, South, Andhra Pradeshnding lakhs of rupees for water. N. Nageswara Rao, a farmer of Muthagudem under Khammam Urban mandal said that he is pouring water to the plants to save them.