VIJAYAWADA: The prevailing dry spell across the state is likely to pose a threat to expected crop yields this kharif season.
According to information available with the state agriculture department, 325 out of 670 mandals have experienced three dry spells this season. The dry spell is calculated if there is no rain for three continuous weeks after the monsoon enters for the season.
This year, though there was 5.8% of excess rainfall in the state, comparatively, the north coastal districts and Rayalaseema districts have experienced a greater dry spell. The state had received 513.2 mm rainfall against the average rainfall of 484.9 mm from June to the first week of October this year. While Nellore district had received the lowest rainfall, Chittoor and Kadapa districts received the highest, leaving normal rainfall in the remaining 10 districts.
In Srikakulam district, out of 38 mandals, 13 experienced a single dry spell, while 20 mandals recorded two dry spells and 33 mandals experienced three dry spells between June and October. However, Krishna district had seen just two mandals with single dry spell and two more with three dry spells. These four mandals are from the western parts of the district, where agriculture is cultivated under borewells, besides rain-fed crops.
Similarly, West Godavari district has witnessed eight mandals with a single dry spell and eight mandals with three dry spells. As many as 50% of these mandals have had the experience of the longest dry spells this season, where mostly paddy is cultivated. This year, Chittoor is comparatively in a better place with only eight out of 66 mandals experiencing a single dry spell.
Dry spell is one of the conditions to declare drought in the state. Besides rainfall, availability of drinking water and fodder and the crop situation are also considered before the Centre declares an area as drought-hit. While there is no severe drought, the long gap between spells of rain can cause adverse changes in the moisture levels and affect crops and yield for the season. However, all these would be known once the officials start evaluation in December, by which time, the paddy harvesting will have been completed.
