Severe rainfall deficit impacts Kharif farming in Markapuram

Acute rainfall deficit has created a serious farm crisis in Markapuram district due to the prevailing Super El Nino conditions. The developments have sharply curtailed kharif cultivation, reduced crop prospects and intensified moisture stress in horticulture crops across affected areas.

Speaking to The Hindu, Collector M. Vijaya Suneetha pointed out that the district has received only 108.6 mm rainfall against the normal 228.4 mm from June 1, representing a 52.5% deficit.

The impact has reportedly been evident in kharif coverage. Against the normal cropped area of 85,577 hectares, only 18,055 hectares has been cultivated so far, leaving 67,522 hectares unsown. The coverage has fallen to 21.09%, compared with 79% last year. Even standing crops are expected to suffer steep yield losses, with red gram output potentially declining from five quintals to 0.5 quintal an acre and cotton from 10 quintals to one or two quintals.

Impact on horticulture

Horticulture has also been badly affected, with 9,092 hectares cultivated against the normal 32,097 hectares. Chilli, normally grown on 19,131 hectares, has been transplanted in only 3,200 hectares, compared to 9,500 hectares at this time last year. Meanwhile, the administration is encouraging farmers to diversify into short-duration vegetables wherever irrigation permits, helping conserve water, reduce climate risks and generate quicker returns.

The citrus growers, covering 4,628 hectares of sweet orange and acid lime, are facing moisture stress, smaller fruits, reduced juice content, sunburn, sucking pests and diseases such as dry root rot and gummosis. Officials are recommending weed mats, organic mulching, farm ponds, micro-irrigation, anti-transpirant sprays and micronutrient foliar applications, while cautioning against over-irrigation after prolonged dry spells.

Meanwhile, the banana growers in Giddalur and Komarole mandals are experiencing moisture stress and increased Sigatoka leaf spot. The farmers are being advised to follow the recommended fungicide schedule, including Propiconazole at 1 ml per litre of water.

Promotion of farm ponds

For standing horticulture crops such as mango, papaya, guava, acid lime, pomegranate, vegetables and chillies, the administration is promoting farm ponds, micro-irrigation, weed-mat mulching, PMDS and crop insurance. Under El Nino mitigation, targets include farm ponds for 791 farmers and weed mats over 692 hectares, while PMDS has already been implemented across 4,371.80 hectares of horticultural crops districtwide.