Hyderabad: The poor monsoon this year, resulting in a prolonged dry spell, has destroyed crops, especially in five districts of the state. The cotton crop sown on 24,875 acres in Ranga Reddy district has been lost, though elsewhere it has done well.

Jowar sown on 15,625 acres in Mahbubnagar district, and on 1,695 acres in Nagarkurnool has dried up. Some crops have been damaged by heavy rains recently in some districts.

The green gram crop sown on 250 acres in Khammam district and on 2,125 acres in Mahbubabad district were damaged by excessive rain, while in three other districts — Nirmal (810 acres), Vikarabad (677 acres), and Suryapet (20 acres), the green gram crop has dried up.

The agriculture department’s report stated that in the ongoing kharif season, TS witnessed 47 per cent excess rainfall in June but suffered 40 per cent deficit in July, 12 per cent deficit in August and 30 per cent deficit in September so far.

The area under cotton has seen a huge increase. Cotton is sown on 41.9 lakh acres in TS usually, but this year it was sown on 46.52 lakh acres. The department expects 28 lakh metric tonnes of cotton this kharif, and it will be challenging for the government to ensure the minimum support price.

Marketing minister T. Harish Rao has convened a meeting with the cabinet sub-committee on September 13 to discuss measures to be taken to ensure MSP for cotton.