PJTS Agricultural University releases contingency crop plan for south Telangana

HYDERABAD: To guide farmers to salvage the present Vanakalam cropping season, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Agro Climate Research Centre, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad released a detailed contingency plan on Monday.

The plan was meant for the southern Telangana zone consisting of Vikarabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Jogulamba Gadwal and Narayanpet districts.

Predominant crops in this zone included sorghum, cotton, rice, red gram, sesame, maize, castor, safflower and groundnut. Alternatives suggested for these districts include short-duration vegetables, bajra, sugarcane and sunflower.

Paddy farmers could raise nurseries of medium varieties to June 30 and short-duration varieties up to July 15. Farmers were advised to sow the rice nurseries of RNR 15048 variety till the end of July. Cotton could be sown up to July 20.

Whereas medium-duration red gram could be taken up in light red soils, short-duration maize was also advised in some areas. However, farmers must take precautions against stem borers within 15 days after germination.

In case of drought, farmers should delay the fertiliser application till sufficient soil moisture builds up through the rain. Farmers must apply the recommended dose of Nitrogen and Potassium fertilisers for cotton immediately after rain.

In case of mid-season drought, farmers must undertake frequent inter-cultivation of cotton, red gram and jowar, keeping the crop weed-free and conserving soil moisture. If the drought occurs during the end of the Vanakalam season, farmers must try to save the crop with the help of irrigation from nearby ponds.