KHAMMAM: Insufficient rainfall this kharif season has hit the growth of cotton and other crops in the district. Cultivation of cotton and other crops has been taken up in 35,000 hectares in the district in kharif so far. According to the meteorological officials, the district recorded a rainfall of 100 cm in June against normal rainfall of 132 cm. It received an excess rainfall of 153.4 cm in the month of June last year. Apart from cotton, maize, green gram, red gram and other crops are cultivated in kharif in the district. Of the total 46 mandals in the district, Kunavaram, Errupalem, Bonkal, Vemsoor, Madhira and Nelakondapalli only got normal rainfall in June this season. Rainfall in the remaining mandals was below normal. Lack of adequate rainfall may hit the growth of crops in the initial stage as a majority of farmers are still dependent on the monsoon due to lack of proper irrigation facility. Farmers have started worrying as their crops are withering. Initial estimates have put the loss at Rs 50 crore.K Santaiah, a farmer of Konijerla, said he sowed cotton by purchasing seed at Rs 2,000 per packet in the black market. He invested Rs 7,000 per acre initially. Due to lack of rains, the cotton crop is withering. According to agricultural officials it is advisable to farmers to opt for alternative crops as the dry spell is likely to continue for another fortnight.
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