As of November 29, 2024, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have significantly increased their rabi crop sowing, covering over 545,000 hectares, which marks a remarkable 38.3% rise compared to the same period last year. This surge is attributed to favorable weather conditions and improved agricultural practices.
The state agriculture department's report highlights that the acreage dedicated to chana has seen an impressive increase of 48.6%, reaching 211,000 hectares from 142,000 hectares in the previous year. Overall, the total area sown under all pulses has expanded to 345,000 hectares, up from 235,000 hectares last year.
The report also details specific crops that have benefited from this increase in acreage. Black gram, or urad, has grown to 50,000 hectares, a slight rise from 47,000 hectares last year, while horse gram, known as kulthi dal, has surged to 57,000 hectares from just 25,000 hectares.
The current status of rabi crops in Andhra Pradesh reveals a diverse range of development stages. Rabi paddy is currently in the nursery to transplantation phase, while jowar, maize, and tobacco are at the vegetative stage. Meanwhile, urad and rabi moong crops are transitioning from sowing to the vegetative stage.
In contrast, kharif crops, including paddy, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, moong, urad, horse gram, and groundnut, are at the harvesting stage, indicating a busy period for farmers.
Water resources play a crucial role in agricultural productivity, and the latest data shows that reservoir levels across the state are at 80.1% of their live storage capacity, a significant improvement from 37.2% a year ago. This increase in water availability is expected to support the ongoing agricultural activities and contribute to the overall growth of the sector.
The favorable water situation, combined with the rise in acreage for various crops, paints a positive picture for the agricultural landscape in Andhra Pradesh as the state moves forward in the rabi season.