Chittoor farmers face crop losses due to severe rainfall deficit

…had encouraged them to take up kharif sowing, but the absence of adequate rainfall in July and August left standing crops struggling for moisture, resulting in poor germination, stunted growth and drying plants. “ Though we thought of resowing after receiving some rain in August, we had to drop the idea due to the increasing cost of cultivation ,” said Hareesh, a B.Sc. (Horticulture) student-turned-farmer from M. Kotur in Palamaner mandal. “Inadequate rainfall has led to a sharp decline in groundwater levels. The threat of El Niño has forced many farmers to…

…of resowing after receiving some rain in August, we had to drop the idea due to the increasing cost of cultivation,” said Hareesh, a B.Sc. (Horticulture) student-turned-farmer from M. Kotur in Palamaner mandal. “ Inadequate rainfall has led to a sharp decline in groundwater levels. The threat of El Niño has forced many farmers to refrain from spending more on irrigation. As a result, farmers are unwilling to take up the digging of new borewells ,” a field officer in Kuppam division said. The rainfall deficit has also resulted in poor inflows into tanks, ponds and streams and reduced groundwater recharge, increasing the pressure on drinking-water sources in…