Kurnool's Crisis Deepens as Drought Dashes Farmers' Hopes

Kurnool: Farmers' hopes for rainfall during the Northeast monsoon season this month have been dashed, with a significant shortfall in precipitation. December so far saw only 28 per cent of the expected rainfall, marking a deficit of 72 per cent. Since June, Kurnool has experienced a 35 per cent deficit in rainfall, while Nandyal faced a 28 per cent shortfall.

Kurnool's situation is particularly dire, with a 100 per cent deviation from expected rainfall levels during the northeast monsoon. As a result, the district administrations of Kurnool and Nandyal have had to restrict paddy farming due to insufficient water supply.

From June to September, the district received only 329.5mm of rainfall against the expected 401mm -- an 18 per cent deficit.

From October to December, the situation worsened with no rainfall received, against the normal expectation of 147mm.

In early November, the agriculture advisory board of Kurnool met to address these problems. The district administration imposed restrictions on paddy farming in project areas near the city, citing potential drinking water shortages.

Agricultural officials were directed to advise farmers, especially those in the Gajuladinne project area, to switch to less water-intensive crops. Approximately 600 unauthorized water motors exacerbating the water crisis were disconnected.
Kurnool and Nandyal recorded lower-than-normal rainfall since June, receiving 352mm (against a normal of 542.5mm) and 468mm (against a normal of 652mm), respectively. This shortfall has led to crop damage in Kurnool, with the district administration estimating losses at  Rs.368 cr across 2.38 lakh hectares.
District agriculture officer PL Varalakshmi spoke of plans to compensate 2,90,741 affected farmers with a payment of'368.36 crore.

However, this compensation will be capped at two hectares per farmer in the 24 drought-hit mandals of Kurnool.
Further, the Nandyal administration, facing water shortages in Srisailam and other reservoirs, has advised farmers to opt for dry crops instead of paddy, during the Rabi season.

K Ranga Reddy, a farmer from Kodumur, expressed disappointment over the lack of rainfall from the expected cyclone Michaung, leaving farmers uncertain about water availability for their crops. Due to the acute water shortage, they have been compelled to discontinue Rabi paddy cultivation this season, he said.