Owing to the deficient rainfall, sowing activities in Dharwad district could not be carried out as expected during this season. According to officials in the Department of Agriculture, only 16 % of the total sowing target has been achieved so far. The much-needed rain during the first and second week of June skipped this region and hence, sowing has not commenced to the full extent, they said.
Thought the district received good spells of rain in the last week of April and May, the quantum of rain reduced in June, thus affecting sowing. Against a normal rainfall of 205.6 mm from January to June 24, the district received 91.7 mm rainfall till June 24 this year, resulting in a 55 % deficit. The rain in May helped farmers to prepare their fields for sowing.
However, against an average rainfall of 76 mm from June 1 to June 21, the district received 41 mm rainfall which is a 38 % deficit. The department had set a target of 2.35 lakh hectares for kharif sowing but due to scanty rainfall, sowing has taken place in only 34,000 hectares.
The target fixed for kharif sowing in the district stands at 2.35 lakh hectares of land and is expected to produce 2.43 lakh tonnes of foodgrains.
Paddy, maize, pulses, groundnut, soyabean and hybrid cotton are the major kharif crops grown in the district. Maize occupies a major share of land with 45,200 hectares used for its cultivation followed by soya (36,500 hectares), green gram (35,600 hectares), groundnut (33,200 hectares), paddy (25,445 hectares) and hybrid cotton (24,850 hectares).
Anticipating good rainfall, farmers purchased seeds and fertilizers from the Agriculture Department. However, they are a worried lot now in view of insufficient rain. The officials said that the department, considering the prevailing situation, is encouraging farmers to sow maize and cotton. There was no official intimation about cloud seeding so far, they added.
