Continuous rainfall since June has helped farmers take up brisk sowing during this kharif season. The rainfall during the monsoon has been satisfactory, with Kalaburagi district recording 228.2mm rainfall against the normal average of 160.5 mm from June 1 to July 12.
The district recorded 213.3 mm of rainfall in June as against the month’s normal of 113.3 mm. However, the district received only 14.8 mm rainfall till July 12 as against the normal of 47.2mm.
Around 80 % of the targeted area for kharif crops, both in the rain-fed and irrigated areas, has been covered in the district.
According to sources in the Department of Agriculture, farmers have completed sowing in more than 5.09,985 hectares of farmland against the fixed target of 5,59,785 hectares for the kharif season.
Among foodgrains, pulses dominated the scenario with farmers completing sowing in 3.45 lakh hectares (82 %) of land against a target of 4.23 lakh hectares. Crops such as black gram and green gram have already crossed the targeted area with sowing taken up in 81,677 hectares against a targeted area of 60,100 hectares.
Black gram has been sown in 147 % and green gram in 128 % area already. This figure is likely to go up as farmers in Kalaburagi and Jewargi taluks are still busy sowing black gram.
Cereals have been sown in 13,046 hectares (5 6%) against a targeted area of 23,285 hectares, while sowing of pulses have been taken up in 3,45,660 hectares (82 %) against targeted area of 4,23,450 hectares. Oilseeds have covered 23,749 hectares (62 %) against a targeted area of 38,050 hectares.
Cereals and millets
Among cereals, Jowar has been sown in 1,224 hectares against a targeted cultivation area of 1,550 hectares, maize on 2,835 hectares and bajra on 8,279 hectares. Cultivation of cereals and other millets has crossed the targeted area covering 293 hectares of area against 185 hectares.
Oilseeds
Among oilseeds, farmers have switched to soyabean which has been sown in 12,245 hectares (82 %) of land against the targeted 15,000 hectares.
The area under sunflower cultivation, however, is only 60 % of the targeted area. Groundnut has been sown in 394 hectares against the targeted 1,100 hectares, while sesamum has been taken up in 1,291 hectares against the targeted area of 5,000 hectares.
The district has so far successfully achieved 98 % cotton sowing against a total target of 48,000 hectares. The sources in the Agriculture Department said that the monsoon across the district this time was favourable, which helped farmers take up timely sowing operations. Overall, 80 % of the targeted area has been covered with crops for the kharif season, while the remaining area may be covered in the next two weeks.
Aland and Sedam taluks have completed sowing on 86 % of the targeted area under kharif cultivation, followed by 85 % in each Chincholi and Chitapur taluks, 83 % in Aland and 82 % in Jewargi. The lowest percentage of sowing (56) was recorded in Kalaburagi taluk.
