Andhra Pradesh records 52% kharif sowing amid rainfall deficit
Andhra Pradesh has completed sowing in 16.19 lakh hectares (52% of target) for kharif 2025, slightly below normal due to a 24.8% rainfall deficit. Paddy and pulses show good progress, but groundnut lags at 23% of normal. Oilseeds remain weak, raising concerns over yields and rural livelihoods.
Andhra Pradesh has completed sowing in 16.19 lakh hectares during the ongoing kharif 2025 season, achieving 52% of the seasonal target of 31.16 lakh hectares. This is marginally below the 16.63 lakh hectares typically sown by this date. The progress comes despite the State facing a 24.8% rainfall deficit during the southwest monsoon so far.
Kharif starts in June and sowing begins in the first few days but could go on till September with slight variations for different crops and also depending on the factors like weather and availability of water.
According to information, paddy, the principal kharif crop in the State, has seen sowing in 8.11 lakh hectares, which is 55% of the seasonal target of 15.55 lakh hectares. Other major food grains like maize, ragi, and bajra are also performing well with sowing percentages of 88, 89, and 72 of seasonal targets respectively.
However, coarse cereals as a group (including jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, and minor millets) are currently sown in just 1.52 lakh hectares, 66% of their seasonal target. Pulses have shown strong progress, especially red gram, which has surpassed expectations with 1.37 lakh hectares sown, marking 129% of the normal and 53% of the seasonal target. Other pulses like black gram and horse gram are also performing decently, agriculture officials say.
Groundnut a major concern
The major area of concern continues to be oilseeds, especially groundnut, which is a critical crop in Rayalaseema and other rainfed regions. Only 1.32 lakh hectares of groundnut have been sown as against the seasonal target of 5.72 lakh hectares. This reflects only 44% of the normal sowing for this time. The delay and shortfall in groundnut cultivation could result in a significant impact on rural livelihoods and fodder availability.
Cotton, another major crop, has fared better with 3.25 lakh hectares sown, 58% of the target. Other crops like sugarcane and castor are progressing at a slower pace, and tobacco has seen negligible sowing so far, officials say.
In total, foodgrains have reached 50% of their seasonal target and 129% of the normal area expected by this date, indicating a favourable trend in irrigated areas. Oilseeds, however, remain at just 30% of the seasonal target.
District-level variations are stark. Chittoor leads with 167% of its seasonal normal area sown, followed by Sri Satya Sai at 142%. YSR Kadapa has achieved its seasonal target in full. At the other end, Annamayya district (15%), Kurnool (22%), and SPSR Nellore (33%) are among the poorest performers.
In the coastal belt, East Godavari (86%), West Godavari (80%), and Krishna (56%) show moderate progress. Srikakulam and Vizianagaram have crossed 100% of the normal date-wise area but are still at 79% and 34% respectively of their seasonal targets.
M.V.S. Nagi Reddy, YSRCP farmer wing leader, points out the stark difference in sowing progress between the two Telugu States, noting that timely rains, irrigation support, and farmer preparedness in Telangana contributed to better coverage. The relatively lower progress in Andhra Pradesh has raised concerns about seasonal yields and the pace of government support mechanisms. Telangana has achieved 69.11% of its targeted cultivation area, while Andhra Pradesh lags behind with only 52% sowing completed so far. Telangana has completed sowing in 91.52 lakh acres out of its estimated 1.32 crore acres for the season, he adds.
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Source : The Hindu
