El Nino: AP Orders Efforts On War Footing To Save Crops

Agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu has directed officials to undertake efforts on a war footing to protect crops facing moisture stress amid El Nino-induced dry conditions in Andhra Pradesh.

At a high-level review on Sunday, he stressed that every available water source be utilised to provide protective irrigation.

Atchannaidu assessed rainfall, Kharif cultivation, crop damage, crop health monitoring and alternative cropping. The government would stand by farmers, he sais, and asked officials to remain vigilant in the field and provide timely technical advice.

The state received only 218.2mm rainfall between June 1 and Sept 12 against the normal 476.1mm, registering a deficit of 54.2 per cent, officials said.

As on Sept 12, Kharif crops had been cultivated over 26.50 lakh hectares, 74 per cent of the normal area and 78 per cent of last year's corresponding acreage. Paddy accounted for 12.01 lakh hectares, cotton 4.11 lakh, red gram 2.63 lakh, groundnut 1.47 lakh and maize 1.08 lakh hectares.

Crop stress was reported in 284 mandals and 1,792 RSKs/village areas, affecting 2,44,443 hectares. Of this, 1,92,387 hectares faced moisture stress, 41,474 hectares had wilting crops and 10,582 hectares reported crop drying.

Kurnool recorded the largest extent of affected area at 1,09,255 hectares, followed by Nandyal with 80,751 hectares and Anantapur 32,456 hectares. By crop, red gram was affected in over 74,301 hectares, cotton 73,733, groundnut 25,818, maize 24,819 and paddy 18,443 hectares.

The minister asked officials to prioritise saving moisture-stressed crops and ensure that field-level conditions were continuously assessed. Agriculture and water resources officials were asked to coordinate closely and supply protective irrigation wherever required.

Officials said surveys had been completed in 2.7493 crore out of 2.7558 crore plots, achieving 99.76 per cent coverage -- with 65,233 plots pending. Crop-health updates were completed for 98.10 lakh of 1.082 crore plots, leaving 10.10 lakh pending. Atchannaidu called for speedy completion of the backlog.

The minister also called for large-scale promotion of alternative, low-water crops. Alternative crops have been taken up on 34,567 hectares, while another 95,112 hectares remain to be covered.

Irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu urged farmers under Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam to opt for dryland crops instead of paddy.