The extent of cultivation in the state crossed one crore acres this rainy season. According to the agriculture department officials, during the last rainy season, 95 lakh acres were under cultivation. This time seven lakh more acres came under cultivation taking the total to 1.02 crore acres. Cotton was sown in an extent of 44.57 lakh acres followed by paddy in 41.73 lakh acres.
During the last rainy season, paddy was cultivated in a record 64.54 lakh acres and it is going to be about 70 lakh acres this time. The Medak district witnessed an increase of 121 per cent and Adilabad 104 per cent in paddy cultivation. Water availability in abundance through ponds, tanks and canals and increased groundwater table coupled with the government’s timely assistance to the farmers have all contributed to the enhanced area of cultivation in the state.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao