Sowing begins in Adilabad but behind schedule; rains awaited

 ADILABAD: Farmers have begun agriculture operations by sowing cotton seeds and paddy plantation but 20 days late due to the delay in monsoon onset in the erstwhile Adilabad district and northern districts in the state as well.

The farmers, who have already sown cotton crop, are waiting for good rains as the area so far witnessed deficit rainfall in June. The sowing is expected to pick up in the coming weeks as most of the sowing takes place in July, interlacing with the monsoon rains.

With the monsoon off to a slow start this kharif, the sowing activity was delayed by 20 days, say the farmers of the district, expecting good rainfall for the next 15 days for good germination and growth of crops.

Cotton seeds need sufficient moisture in the soil for germination and it requires good rainfall for the next fortnight so that sprouts will come up. Otherwise, the sown seeds will get damaged or the sprouts will be withered, they say.

The paddy cultivation is high under canals in the Nirmal and Mancherial districts compared to that in Adilabad and Komaram Bheem Asifabad districts. Paddy cultivation is high under Kadam ayacut.

The area of cotton cultivation is nearly 18 lakh acres in the erstwhile Adilabad district, of which 4 lakh acres in Adilabad district alone. The second highest area of cultivation is of soya crop in the district.

Rajeshwar, a farmer from Ankoli village of Adilabad Rural mandal, said that most of the farmers had started sowing cotton only after the area witnessed rains, lest the germination should not be affected.

He observed that there would not be any impact of monsoon delay on the late sowing. Another farmer echoed him, adding that the plantation of paddy can also be taken up till August first week, unlike cotton. Paddy plantation has already begun in Huzurabad, Ramadugu, Gangadhara, and Manthani areas in the erstwhile Karimnagar district.

Of the total cultivable area of 13 lakh acres, paddy is cultivated in 9.5 lakh acres, cotton in 2.5 lakh acres and other crops cover the remaining acreage in the erstwhile Karimnagar district.