Timely rains help farmers of Godavari districts

KAKINADA: Farmers of erstwhile East and West Godavari districts are happy that timely rains have helped the well-being of their standing crops, especially paddy.

Earlier, farmers had been worried about no rainfall being there after they undertook transplantation. Crops in certain areas, particularly in upland and tail-end regions, started getting affected. Rains are essential during the initial stages for paddy to take root.

Gullinkala Satyanarayana, a farmer from Rajanagaram mandal, said his paddy had been starving for water. But rains have helped him save the crop to some extent.

Another farmer V.S. Raju wanted the government to deploy agricultural machinery for removing weeds from the paddy fields, as farmers are unable to bear the labour charges for the purpose. He suggested that if agricultural activities could be taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (MGNREGS), it would be helpful for farmers in reducing their cost of cultivation.

However, rains in towns, slums and low-lying areas have caused considerable discomfort for people. People in villages as well as towns are facing mosquito problems. They have requested local body authorities to spread bleaching powder on streets for killing mosquitoes.

East Godavari district received 515 mm of rainfall with an average of 27.1 mm. Rajamahendravaram received the highest rainfall of 33.1 mm. In West Godavari, Tadepalligudem received the highest rainfall of 69.8 mm, while Iragavaram got the lowest rainfall of 2.2 mm. Eluru district received 375.2 mm of rain, with an average of 13.9 mm. Kukunuru mandal got the highest rainfall of 64.6 mm.