A truant monsoon has kept Telangana farmers still guessing. Sowings have been hit in some areas of the State even after six weeks into the kharif season. Nearly 40% of the mandals have received deficient rainfall. There is a total drop of four lakh hectares in the cropped area as per the latest figures. Paddy and maize have been affected because of lack of rains in several areas. The State’s kharif cropped area is put at 43 lakh hectares. Though the cotton farmers are better off when compared to others, farmers are apprehensive that they might face a tough situation if there are no rains in the next 10-14 days. Sowings in coarse grains have taken a hit with the farmers sowing in 4.87 lakh hectares as against the average as-on-date cover of 5.36 lakh hectares. Nearly half of the 30 districts (Hyderabad excluded) have registered a deficit rainfall as on 16 August. A district is considered to be deficient in rain, if the rainfall fell short by 20-59 per cent. Only Jogulamba Gadwal district has received excess rainfall, with the remaining are in the ‘normal’ rainfall category (plus 19 to minus 19 per cent).