Dry Spell and Humidity Worry Rayalaseema Farmers During Monsoon Season
Farmers in Rayalaseema are struggling with a persistent dry spell and high humidity, as delayed and uneven monsoon rainfall threatens kharif crop sowing and horticulture production across Kurnool, Nandyal, and Kadapa districts.
Highlights
- •Rayalaseema farmers face agricultural delays due to an uneven and insufficient southwest monsoon.
- •Erratic rainfall patterns have left many mandals in Kurnool, Nandyal, and Kadapa with significant moisture deficits.
- •Crucial kharif crops, including cotton and horticulture produce like lemon and papaya, are currently under threat.
- •Groundwater levels are declining, complicating irrigation efforts for farmers across the affected districts.
As the month of June approaches its end, farmers across Rayalaseema are grappling with a persistent dry spell and uncomfortable weather conditions. Despite the official onset of the southwest monsoon earlier this month, the region—specifically parts of Kurnool, Nandyal, and Kadapa—has experienced significantly lower rainfall than anticipated. This weather pattern is causing growing anxiety among the local agricultural community.
Although daytime temperatures have seen a slight reduction, residents continue to report high levels of humidity, making the climate feel as oppressive as it does during the peak of summer. Meteorological experts have linked these challenges to an uneven distribution of rainfall across the region. At the Rekulakunta weather station in Anantapur, officials noted that while some specific pockets received up to 80 mm of rain, other neighboring mandals barely recorded 1 mm, highlighting the erratic nature of the current monsoon.
Impact of the Dry Spell on Kharif Cultivation
The lack of consistent rainfall has created a difficult environment for those preparing for the kharif season. Over 90,000 hectares of land across the affected districts face uncertainty as farmers wait for sufficient water to begin sowing. In Nandyal, while the total recorded rainfall appeared adequate at 84 mm for its 30 mandals, the bulk of this moisture arrived in the first ten days of June, leaving the area dry for the remainder of the month. A farmer from Pattikonda, K. Sudarshana Naidu, expressed his hesitation to proceed with planting cotton on his four-acre plot due to the absence of reliable rain and a scarcity of urea.
The situation is equally concerning in the Kadapa district, where water scarcity is beginning to impact vital horticultural crops, including sweet lime, lemon, and papaya, particularly in the Badvel constituency. Local growers have observed a sharp decline in groundwater levels, leaving them with limited irrigation alternatives.
Hope Remains for Upcoming Monsoon Spells
As of now, less than 20 percent of the total cultivable land in the region has been utilized for sowing operations, despite the kharif season being underway for over three weeks. The agricultural community remains hopeful that increased precipitation before the end of June will allow them to prepare nurseries and move forward with their planting cycles. For now, the combination of high humidity and delayed rain remains a central concern for both rural residents and those dependent on the land for their livelihood in Rayalaseema.
