Groundnut is an important Rabi crop produced in Telangana. Normally, every year, the area used for groundnut production accounts to around 1.52 lakh hectares. This year, Groundnut has been sown in an area of 1.45 lakh hectares as compared to the 1.09 lakh hectares in 2016.
Telangana has been witnessing prolonged dry spell for about entire month. In wake of this, maximum temperatures have been settling 3-5 degrees above normal.
All these factors have already impacted crop production. At present, groundnut crop is at flowering to pod formation stage. Sporadic incidences of spodoptera, tikka leaf spot, webber, thrips and jassids are also observed in few districts but major infestation is in Nalgonda and Mahabubabad. As per reports, infestation is below economic threshold level (ETL).
According to experts, there is a moisture stress that has resulted in reduction of leaf area, further reducing the photosynthesis area. In total, it will affect the crop growth rate.
This could also result in yield loss to the tune of 30%-40%, impacting the overall production of the groundnut in the state.
Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Gadwal and Mehabubabad are the key groundnut producing districts of the state. This year, around 18932, 34249, 25474, 8572 and 12426 hectares have been sown in the above-mentioned districts, respectively.
Since groundnut production requires good amount of water supply, it is mostly grown in the areas where all the irrigation facilities are available.
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