Deficient and delayed rainfall has been causing worry among farmers who have completed sowing in Vijayapura district after a few good spells of rain in the first week of June.
The farmers were elated when they received copious rain soon after the commencement of monsoon in the district. The rainfall encouraged the farmers to take up sowing extensively, hoping that they would receive more rain after sowing which helps in germination of seeds.
But with rain getting delayed, the germination process will take a hit which will directly affect the crops.
In some places, the farmers took up early cultivation just after the first spells of rain, and the seeds have germinated and plants have come up to a height of around six inches. However, such farmers now fear that their plants may wither away due to lack of rain.
While on the one hand, delayed rain is causing worry, the heavy winds are adding to the concern as the winds lead to quick evaporation of moisture.
Though some farmers have borewells for supplying water to the plants, the available water would prove inadequate to large tracts of land. The farmers have no choice but to depend on rains for better yield.
According to officials of Agriculture Department, sowing has been completed in 3.68 lakh hectares of the total targeted sowing area of 4.30 lakh hectares in the district.
While in June, 12.09 mm rainfall was recorded, which is a little above the average rain, in July, the district has received only 1.5 mm rain which is too meagre to expect a better crop.
Meanwhile, the officials believe that the situation has still not reached alarming levels as some good spells of rain are expected in the next few days.
The soil still contains some amount of moisture which is keeping the crops alive. However, the officials fear that if present situation continues for some more days, it would adversely affect the crops.
