Farmers in the drought-hit Kolar district are worried about their future as the monsoon has failed yet again in the region. Due to scanty rain, they know they might have to suffer losses again as sowing has been completed only in a few thousand hectares (ha) of land against the target of 1.02 lakh ha.
Though some farmers prepared their land for sowing after it rained in May and June, they are waiting for a good spell of rain to start sowing.
18.28 mm rainfallThe district has received 18.28 mm rainfall till July 1 this year against the average of 18.74 mm. But uneven distribution of rain has left farmers worried. Sowing has been completed only in 6,681 ha of land. According to sources in the Agriculture Department, red gram has been sown in 641 ha and groundnut in 5,769 ha. Sowing of ragi is yet to pick up as it is mainly dependent on rain.
Assistant Agriculture Officer of Sugatur hobli said that if there was no rain next week, red gram crop would be affected.