Major crops in Telangana, especially maize, which were withering due to the dry spell, have been saved due to widespread rain in the past few days.
Due to adverse seasonal conditions withering symptoms were observed mostly in maize but also in green gram, red gram, jowar, paddy, cotton and soyabean crops in Khammam, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and other places.
“Crops that were withering have recouped due to rains across the state, as per reports from all districts,’’ Ms Jhansi, deputy director, Telangana agriculture department, told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.
Another senior official said that maize which was in withering stage due to the dry spell before rains began from August 19 in Nalgonda, most places in Mahbubnagar and other parts of the state, has revived. “Farmers are taking up land preparation and sowing operations as the monsoon is active,” he explained.
Agriculture Minister, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy held a high level meeting with officials the other day and reviewed the situation.
He asked senior officials to send joint teams from agriculture department and research centres for field visits and to advise farmers over the status of crops, crop management and soil moisture conservation practices to avoid crop loss. Of the cropped area of 43.43 lakh hectares, the area sown has crossed 35.04lakh hectares. In TS nearly 25 lakh hectares is rain fed.
