Severe rainfall deficit impacts Kharif farming in Markapuram

Collector M. Vijaya Sunitha on Wednesday said that Markapuram district is facing a severe agricultural crisis due deficient rainfall and prevailing Super El Nino conditions, which have sharply curtailed kharif cultivation, reduced crop prospects and intensified moisture stress in horticulture crops across affected areas. 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.