Monsoon Failure Threatens Kharif Crop Outlook in Telangana

Despite a higher area under kharif crops sown or transplanted by the end of the first week of July this year compared to the same period last year, the outlook for the current season appears grim. Over 63% of mandals (382 out of 605) across Telangana's 32 rural districts are experiencing the impact of monsoon failure, raising concerns about crop performance and agricultural productivity.

With weather forecasts predicting poor rainfall for the remainder of July, the prospects for a good crop are in jeopardy. All major, medium, and minor irrigation reservoirs remain empty due to lack of rains in their catchment areas. According to the Agriculture Department, cultivation of kharif crops has reached about 55.32 lakh acres, compared to 52.04 lakh acres covered during the same period last year.

Farmers across the state have sown cotton in over 39.44 lakh acres, followed by paddy transplantation in about 4.22 lakh acres, soybean in nearly 3.35 lakh acres, redgram in 3.19 lakh acres, maize in 2.84 lakh acres, and greengram and blackgram together in another 46,000 acres.

Rainfall data from the Telangana Development Planning Society shows that 68 mandals have recorded 'large deficient rainfall,' receiving 60% to 99% less rainfall than normal. Another 327 mandals fall under the 'deficient' category, with rainfall 20% to 59% below normal. Rainfall has been classified as 'normal' in 181 mandals, but most of these still received up to 19% less rainfall than normal levels as of July 12.

In contrast, only 45 mandals have received excess to large excess rainfall so far this season. The 11 mandals with large excess rainfall are scattered in Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Suryapet, and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts. Overall, average actual rainfall is 25% less than normal (deficient). Hanumakonda is the most deficient district, with 24 other districts recording deficient rainfall in addition to Hyderabad.

Last year's good rains and availability of water for the second (Rabi) crop in most reservoirs kept the stress on the groundwater table lower. The average groundwater level in June this year was 9.46 metres below ground level (mbgl), compared to 9.47 mbgl in June last year.

As part of contingency plans, the Agriculture Department is making efforts to make available seeds of alternative crops in case the monsoon remains deficient until the end of July's second week.