Rajahmundry, Oct 29th: With the shortage of water in the Godavari River and the other water sources in the Godavari basin, farmers were advised to raise alternate crops including pulses and horticulture crops for those in tail end areas in both East and West Godavari districts. The state government has taken a decision to permit rising of paddy for the rabi season over about 2.25 lakh acres on both East and West Godavari districts in a meeting held in Hyderabad on Wednesday. East Godavari was given permission to raise paddy over about 1.09 lakh acres, and West Godavari over about 1.16 lakh acres.

As state government imposed restrictions on the quantum of area to be allowed for raising paddy as there is no adequate water supply in the Godavari river, farmers were asked to raise alternate crops, especially pulses, including black gram, red gram and maize, as these crops do not require much water, and the time for harvesting these crops is relatively less than that of paddy which usually takes between 90 to 110 days for the second crop.

Farmers were also advised to raise horticulture crops especially in tail end areas of the ayacut. Crops like okra, cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd and other varieties are being suggested to optimize the utility of water. The East Godavari agriculture joint director, Mr. T. Nandaiah said, As state government declared the quantum of area to be taken up for raising paddy for the rabi, we will suggest specific varieties of seeds of paddy to be taken up for cultivation to optimize the utility of water and get a good yield. We have asked farmers to raise alternate crops instead of paddy to overcome the shortage of water in certain pockets.