El Nino, water woes hit paddy farmers in Godavari delta

Published 14 July 2026 · india

AMALAPURAM/ KAKINADA/BHIMAVARAM Paddy farmers in the Central Godavari delta in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district are facing a difficult Kharif season due to scant

AMALAPURAM/ KAKINADA/BHIMAVARAM Paddy farmers in the Central Godavari delta in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district are facing a difficult Kharif season due to scant rainfall associated with the El Nino impact. Additionally, they lack access to irrigation water due to ongoing civil works in various canals. Although nearly 2,500 cusecs of Godavari water has been released into the Central Delta, it has reportedly not reached the farmers as the flow was halted due to ongoing civil works in several canals. In the Central Delta, which spreads across the Konaseema district, the total area under paddy cultivation in the Kharif season is above 1.13 lakh acres. District agriculture officer M.

Venkata Rama Rao told The Hindu, “Paddy nurseries have been raised in 89% of the total area in the Central Delta. By July 14, only 18% of the sowing activity has been completed. In the tail-end area of the Central Delta canal system, more than 8,321 acres are under severe water stress.” The paddy nurseries in the mandals of Polavaram, Malkipuram, Sakinetipalli, K. Gangavaram, Allavaram, and Uppalaguptam are drying out due to the lack of rain and irrigation facilities, he added. On Tuesday, the farmers apprised District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar of the condition of paddy nurseries and difficulties in accessing irrigation water. Reacting to the farmers’ concerns, Mr. Mahesh Kumar held talks with the concerned officials and directed them to ensure the free flow of irrigation water through the irrigation locks and canals.

Eastern Delta In a press conference on Tuesday, Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad announced that water would be released from the Yeleru reservoir on July 19, providing water for 53,000 acres in Kakinada district. “At least 4,900 cusecs of water released from the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram will be diverted to Pithapuram Branch Canal at Samarlakota to speed up Kharif operations across Kakinada district by July 16,” said Mr. Harendhira Prasad. Licenses suspended In the Western Delta, West Godavari District Collector Chadalavada Nagarani on Tuesday stated that the licenses of 20 fertilizer dealers had been suspended for selling urea in the black market. Inquiries against 20 fertilizer traders across the district are under way.

Nagarani said: “At least 10,555 metric tonnes of urea are currently available in the West Godavari district, while 3,322 MT of urea had already been supplied by early June.” The total urea required for the Kharif season in the West Godavari district is above 17,390 MT. In Kharif-2026-27, the total area under paddy is 2.25 lakh acres and 25,000 acres are under horticulture in the West Godavari district.