KAKINADA: Yields of pulses like black gram, green gram, red gram and Bengal gram have gone down steeply in both Godavari delta and upland areas. Heavy rainfall, supply of only substandard fertilisers and pesticides, apart from bad cropping practices have led to drastic falls in the yield.
Farmers complain that had authorities given them quality fertilisers and pesticides, in addition to guiding them in their usage, yields would have been better.
Certain areas in Andhra Pradesh grow pulses as an alternative to paddy, particularly farmers living in upland areas. According to Agriculture Department officials, green gram, red gram, black gram and Bengal gram normally yield 6–7 bags per acre. But this year, yield of black gram was just 0.5–3 bags and Green gram and Bengal gram yielded only 2 bags.
While farmers do acknowledge that cyclones and heavy rains damaged their crop, they are blaming government officials in not ensuring that good quality fertilisers and…
