Srikakulam: Prolonged drought conditions and lack of proper irrigation facilities in the tail-end and upland areas of Palasa and Itchapuram assembly constituencies have crippled agriculture. Even in the second week of July, cultivation of Kharif paddy and other crops has not started here. Due to drought and high temperature, paddy nurseries have dried up. Paddy and other crops are being cultivated in more than one lakh acres in these two assembly constituencies. Both the constituencies include Itchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta, Mandasa, Palasa and Vajrapukotturu mandals. Paddy, groundnut, vegetable crops are grown here every Kharif season. In view of the lack of rain and water facilities, paddy nurseries have dried up in Baruva, Jinkibadra, Koralam, Korni, Haripuram, Ambugam and other villages. Due to heat and lack of rain, farmers are losing hope of saving paddy nurseries. If these paddy nurseries are destroyed, farmers will not be able to cultivate paddy even through direct sowing method because the agriculture department does not have seeds available. This situation is so dire that farmers may lose a crop season.
