Telangana Faces 15% Monsoon Shortfall as 290 Mandals Suffer Deficit Rains

Telangana has recorded an overall monsoon rainfall deficit of 15 per cent between June 1 and August 28, with nearly half of the state's administrative units experiencing deficient showers. According to data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, 290 of the state's 621 mandals have recorded deficit rainfall so far this season.

The state received a cumulative rainfall of 469.4 mm against the normal benchmark of 551.6 mm during this period. The shortfall has been linked to the impact of this year's El Nino weather pattern.

In addition to the 290 deficit mandals, another 256 mandals fall under the meteorological 'normal' category. However, 158 of these mandals have registered net deficits ranging between 1 per cent and 19 per cent below their normal rainfall levels. Four mandals have recorded large deficits, while 71 mandals across the state have received excess rainfall.

Among the state's districts, 16 have been categorized as facing deficit rainfall, while an equal number are listed in the normal range, though 10 of those normal districts have recorded net deficits. Kamareddy is the only district in Telangana to record excess rainfall this season.

Despite the uneven spread of precipitation, agricultural activity has continued steadily. Sowing operations covered 1,19,55,375 acres as of August 27, an increase compared to the 1,17,09,156 acres planted by the same date last year. The progress in sowing followed a monsoon revival in late July and early August.

Paddy remains the most widely planted crop this season at 50,92,817 acres, though this represents a decline from the 59,05,675 acres sown by late August last year. In contrast, cotton acreage increased to 48,21,503 acres, up from 45,21,192 acres recorded during the same period in the previous year.

Adilabad district recorded the largest planted area in the state with 5,88,032 acres. However, 14 of its 21 mandals remain in the deficit category, and the remaining seven mandals registered net shortfalls ranging between 4 per cent and 18 per cent.