Deficient rainfall fails to hit sowing in Dakshina Kannada

Though the monsoon looks better this year compared to 2014, the district still is facing deficient rainfall, up to 21 per cent less than normal, until Saturday. Nevertheless, sowing of paddy in the district has commenced even as officials believe that there is no problem for horticulture crops — arecanut, coconut, cocoa and rubber.

Normal pace

Against the normal rainfall of 1,176.2 mm between January 1 and June 27, the district has received 931.4 mm: better than the 793.5 mm received last year.

While the normal rainfall during June — that is after the onset of monsoon — is 941.8 mm, the district received just 612.6 mm this June. However, this is better than last year’s 559.7 mm.

At the district natural calamity monitoring committee meeting here on Sunday, official of Agriculture and Horticulture departments informed the district administration that agricultural activities are going on at a normal pace.

Target

Joint Director of Agriculture Kempe Gowda said paddy had been sown on about 980 hectares so far, against the target of 33,000 hectares. In the coming days, the target was expected to be achieved, he said.

Seeds available

Adequate quantities of paddy seeds, fertilizer and pesticides were available in the district, Mr. Gowda said. Already 258 quintals of seeds had been distributed, the officer said.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai presided the meeting.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Superintendent of Police S.D. Sharanappa, and zilla panchayat chief executive officer P.I. Sreevidya were present.