Although sowing began on a good note in the district, only 35 per cent of the targeted area has been covered, mainly because of unequal distribution of rainfall.
While sowing is in full swing in Dharwad taluk where 50 per cent of the targeted area has been covered, the same is not the case with other places in the district. In Kalghatgi, 35 per cent sowing is over while the figure is 30 per cent in Hubli taluk.
Less-than-required rainfall has hit sowing in Kundagol and Navalgund taluks, which could meet only 18 per cent and 10 per cent of targeted area, respectively.
Seed shortage
Though initially farmers pressed for Bt cotton, they gradually began switching over to soya bean due to shortage of cotton seeds in the market.
Many farmers chose to grow soya bean as the main crop this time. Besides, there was demand for sorghum, groundnut and green gram, officials from the Agriculture Department said.
The officials said, so far, 13,000 quintals of seeds and 22,000 tonnes of chemical fertilizer had been distributed among farmers. There was fresh demand for 500 quintals of seeds and a proposal had been submitted to the Government in this regard.
Arrangements had been made to distribute seeds through Raitha Samparka Kendra, and there was no dearth of soya seeds in the district. Sowing for soya bean is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, they added.
