Lack of rain leaves crops dry and farmers worried in Mancherial district

Crops are drying up across the Mancherial district as a lack of rainfall hits farms just as the harvest season approaches. Poor rains driven by El Nino and a lack of final watering for the crops have left fields parched, forcing farmers to struggle to save their yield. In Bopparam village of Nennela mandal in the Bellampalli constituency, a farmer named Palle Narsiah was forced to bring water via a tanker to irrigate his field, highlighting the severe hardships faced by cultivators. Farmers planted paddy and cotton crops this season after receiving moderate rains, though the farming season initially faced fertilizer shortages. Now, with no proper rain for a month, crops are drying up rapidly. Farmers with nearby water sources are using motors and generators, while those without are buying tanker water to provide final watering. This adds heavy extra costs to their initial investments, while high demand for motors and generators further exposes the severity of the situation.

Power Struggles and Aid Appeals

Increased reliance on motors for irrigation has driven up the demand for agricultural electricity. Farmers report that power supply is not steady at rising levels, creating further hurdles in watering fields. Cultivators are deeply worried about how to repay loans and recover investments if their crops fail at this final stage, fearing that natural calamities will ruin their family livelihoods. They are urgently appealing to the government to step in, provide necessary assistance, and support them through these dry spells.

Context

Rain-dependent farming in many parts of India often faces severe stress when monsoon patterns shift or dry spells strike during crucial crop growth stages. Drought-like conditions and delayed rains push farmers to rely on expensive alternative irrigation methods like water tankers and diesel generators, adding heavy financial strain to already indebted agrarian households.