The delay in monsoon has become a major cause of worry among farmers of the district.
The deficiency in rain has begun affecting the standing crop. Farmers waiting for the rain to start sowing are also anxious.
According to sources in the Agriculture Department, the district has received 54.4 mm rain against the average rainfall of 101.7 mm.Farmers says that they have already lost close to 50 per cent of the kharif crop.
Toor is the main crop cultivated during kharif season over 2.5 lakh ha. Owing to poor rain, sowing has been completed on only 20,000 ha.
“Even if there is a rainfall, the yield of toor is going to reduce by almost half,” said Arun Khanapur, a farmer of Muddebihal taluk.
Meanwhile, officials said that of the total 4.5 lakh hectare targeted sowing area of the kharif season, sowing is over on only 10 per cent of the total targeted area.
The farmers can start cultivating toor till August first, however, officials said that if there is no rain in the coming days, the farmers will have to abandon sowing toor and switch over to jowar, sunflower, wheat and groundnut.
The cascading effect of deficit rainfall has been seen on drinking water as well, with rural areas facing water crisas.
According to sources in the Revenue Department, the district administration is supplying drinking water to 71 villages through tankers. The number of villages may rise in coming days if the situation prevails.
Meanwhile, the zilla panchayat has decided to pass a resolution in next meeting urging the government to declare the district drought-hit.
“The kharif crop has totally failed, therefore, the ZP will present a demand before the government to declare the district drought-hit,” said ZP president Umesh Kolkur.
