Kharif prospects turn grim in Chittoor as monsoon runs dry
Farmers in Chittoor are facing a difficult Kharif season due to erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells. The district's heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes it particularly vulnerable to climate volatility and El Niño conditions.
Why it matters
The situation underscores the broader challenges of climate change and its direct impact on food security and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Farmers in Chittoor have been badly hit this Kharif season, not just by inadequate rainfall but also by erratic weather patterns that have failed to meet crop requirements at critical growth stages. Prolonged dry spells since March and an erratic southwest monsoon have reportedly left the usually rain-fed farmlands face the risk of a poor harvest as the Kharif season nears its end in the next couple of months.
According to officials, nearly 70% of Chittoor’s agricultural land is traditionally rain-fed, while only 38% of its net sown area relies on irrigation during the Kharif season. The district has a net sown area of about 3.62 lakh hectares and a gross cropped area of 4.20 lakh hectares, according to the NABARD figures.
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