Telangana on verge of losing all crops

HYDERABAD: Farmers in Telangana, who largely depend on ground water to irrigate their fields, are on the verge of losing their Kharif crop this year.

With the power distribution companies (Discoms) imposing unscheduled power cuts for more than three hours as against the promised sevenhour power supply, farmers are clueless about the fate of their crops.

Even as the farmers allege that the officials are exaggerating the power crisis and imposing unnecessary cuts causing much ordeal to them, officials deny the charge and say that the government is ready to purchase as much power as possible to ensure that farmers do not suffer due to power outage.

Agricultural experts say that water supply to agricultural fields for another two weeks will ensure good crop in the region failing which the farmers will lose the crop making it difficult for them to start cultivation during the Rabi season.

Of the 29 lakh pump sets in the state, about 17 lakh are in Telangana, constituting about 60 per cent of the total pump sets in the state.

Due to the indefinite strike by employees and also Singareni Collieries workers, power supply to these pump sets has dwindled to a large extent.

As against the promised free seven-hour power supply to the agricultural sector, the government claims that it is able to supply for six hours in view of the crisis.

However, farmers in villages allege that the government is imposing unscheduled cuts and supplying power for less than five hours during the night.

'The paddy crop in my field is almost ready for reaping but, without proper water supply, it is on the verge of ruin. Damaged rice has not many buyers in the market.

Officials are claiming six hours of power supply but wet hardly get supply for three to four hours, that too erratic,' said Pochanna, a farmer from Kadem in Adilabad district.

Due to the government's failure to procure rice last season, many farmers were forced to sell the paddy to dealers at very low prices. The power outages are increasing everyday causing concern to farmers and industrialists alike.

In Medak district, farmers are fearing a dry crop. About 20 per cent crop in the Gajwel area has already got damaged due to erratic power supply.

'Normally, the crop season starts in June and ends in October. But due to delayed rains, we had to sow the seeds during July-August and will get the crop in November.

If water is not provided at this crucial juncture, the entire investment and time will go waste,' said Ravinder Reddy from Chepyala village in Medak district.

He said farmers were caught between the devil and the deep sea due to lack of power supply and erratic rains.

The situation is similar in most Telangana districts.

Though paddy-growers are the worst-affected, the fate of those cultivating other crops is no different. Apart from short supply, other power-related problems like low voltage are driving the farmers mad.

'Had the government supplied quality power at least for four to five hours, we could have managed to cultivate the crop.

But even the power supplied during the curtailed period is not of desirable quality,' complained R Damodar Rao, a farmer at Vardannapet in Warangal district.

The four districts of Medak, Ranga Reddy, Karimnagar and Nalgonda have received a deficit rainfall during the season, forcing the farmers there to completely depend on power to pump out ground water for irrigation.

According to agriculture officials, crops in an area of 38.27 lakh hectares are likely to be badly affected due to erratic power supply.

Unless immediate measures are initiated to restore power supply for seven hours, officials admit that at least 40 to 50 per cent crop will be lost.