Farmers advised not to raise paddy in Rabi

Agriculture Officer of NTR District, S. Naga Manemma, revealed on Saturday that the district had grappled with 18% rainfall deficit during the Kharif season, and the same trend continued in the Rabi season. This shortfall has led to a significant depletion of water levels in major reservoirs, according to Manemma.
In response to the challenging situation, Manemma strongly recommended that farmers refrain from cultivating paddy during the upcoming Rabi season. Instead, she advocates for the adoption of alternative crops to mitigate the impact of water scarcity.
Addressing the media on Saturday,Manemma said that cultivating paddy in the Rabi season is not feasible. Citing a resolution passed in the Irrigation Advisory Board (IAB) meeting at the behest of the Water Resources Department, she stated that no water would be released to the canals during the Rabi season.
Furthermore, Manemma stressed the importance of farmers taking precautionary measures when selecting alternative crops. Given the deficit in rainfall and declining groundwater levels, she advised farmers to consider cultivating alternative crops using bore wells. Additionally, she cautioned against cultivating water-intensive crops like maize.
Highlighting suitable alternatives, Manemma recommended, “Green Gram LGB 460, 630, 607, 407, 574, WGB 37 LGB 884, TBG 104, and GBG 1 are suitable to cultivate in the Rabi season in the paddy fields.” She urged farmers to consult with agricultural officers to receive guidance on initiating Rabi cultivation.