Agriculture activity picked up in Parvatipuram-Manyam district

The agriculture activity in Parvatipuram-Manyam district has shown significant improvement following recent rains in the region's catchment areas, located at the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border. The impact of El Nino had previously deterred many farmers from engaging in agricultural activities due to concerns about water availability from irrigation canals.

Rivers such as Nagavalli, Suvarnamukhi, Vegavathi, and Gomukhi, which traverse both hilly and plain regions, have been experiencing decent rainfall in their catchment areas.

Officials anticipate further increase in agricultural activity during the months of September and October, as the irrigation department is prepared to release water to the fields via canals. The total crop area in the district spans approximately 80,000 hectares, with farmers cultivating a range of crops including paddy, sugarcane, maize, groundnut, pulses, cashew, turmeric, ginger, and more.

The initial government estimate had predicted a rainfall deficit of around 31%, which would have adversely affected farm activities. However, the recent favorable rainfall conditions have somewhat mitigated the situation across all 15 mandals, including Parvatipuram, Saluru, Kurupam, Gummalakshmipuram, and other areas.

Parvatipuram Collector N.Prabhakar Reddy has instructed the agriculture department to arrange for sufficient fertiliser supply in light of the improving agricultural conditions. The fertilisers are being distributed through 268 Rythu Seva Kendrams established throughout the district. Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani noted that the district had previously earned first place with the production of 5.50,921 metric tonnes of farm products, and expressed hope for continued agricultural growth despite the challenges posed by El Nino.

She urged farmers to consider cultivating commercial crops that require less water compared to traditional crops such as paddy and sugarcane.