With all regions of the State receiving above normal rainfall this monsoon, sowing of key kharif crops such as coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and commercial crops have been completed in 68.78 lakh hectares, constituting 93 per cent of the targeted area of 74.29 lakh hectares.
The corresponding coverage last year was 59 lakh hectares.
The State has received 844 mm of rainfall till September 13 against the normal rainfall of 731 mm. All the four regions — South Interior Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal and Malnad — have received excessive rainfall. All major reservoirs are filled to the brim.
During the past 24 hours (from 8.30 a.m. on Thursday to 8.30 a.m. on Friday), rainfall was widespread in 19 districts and fairly widespread in four districts, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.
Except in Kolar, Tumkur, Chamarajanagar and Mandya, sowing has been completed in more than 85 per cent of targeted area in all districts.
The coverage was the highest in Gulbarga — 105 per cent — and the lowest in Mandya — 67 per cent. The coverage was 100 per cent in Davangere, Bijapur, Raichur and Dharwad.
With more farmers cultivating paddy in Mandya, sowing would continue in the district till September-end.
Cereals, pulses
Acreage under cereals such as rice (paddy), jowar, ragi, maize, bazra and minor millets was 33.97 lakh hectares against the target of 35.06 per cent, constituting 93 per cent. Acreage of maize and bazra exceeded the target and sowing has been taken up in 12.74 lakh hectares and 2.07 lakh hectares, respectively, according to officials of the Agriculture Department.
Pulses have been taken up in 13.70 lakh hectares covering 86 per cent of the targeted area of 15.87 lakh hectares.
Except blackgram (30 per cent), all crops, horsegram, greengram, avare and mothbean, have been taken up in more than 70 per cent of the targeted area.
Oilseeds acreage stood at 10.66 lakh hectares against the target of 12.82 lakh hectares. Groundnut acreage stood at 4.91 lakh hectares, constituting 73 per cent of the targeted 6.77 lakh hectares.
The area under soyabean was 2.51 lakh hectares against the target of 2.42 lakh hectares, constituting 104 per cent.
Led by cotton, commercial corps have been taken up in 10.95 lakh hectares against the target of 10.55 lakh hectares. Acreage under sugarcane is 4.58 lakh hectares, cotton 5.29 lakh hectares and tobacco 1.08 lakh hectares.
