Following satisfactory rainfall, sowing for the kharif season has picked up in Dharwad district, Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli has said.
Speaking to presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Bommanahalli said that a target of 2.31 lakh hectares has been set under kharif sowing. Of this area, paddy is expected to be sown in 23,182 hectares, soya in 39,838 hectares, green gram in 22,986 hectares, maize in 39,838 hectares and groundnut in 29,259 hectares of land. Farmers are also keen on taking up tur, jowar, sugarcane and cowpea in a total of 27,590 hectares of land.
The district has received 105.30 mm of rainfall against an average rainfall of 140.60 mm this season. However, rainfall was widespread and is complementary for preparing ground for sowing. Rainfall has also helped enhance the moisture level which is a vital factor for sowing, he said.
The Agriculture Department would commence seed distribution from this week. The total demand for seeds is 36,708 quintals, including 3,169 quintals of paddy, 5,216 quintals of maize, 125 quintals of tur, 1,330 quintals of green gram, 115 quintals of blackgram, 12,275 quintals of groundnut, and 13,910 quintals of soya and 483 quintals of cotton. The department has procured 7,800 quintals of various seeds and made arrangements to distribute them through the 14 Raitha Sampark Kendras, he added.
The district requires 75,285 tonnes of fertilizer, including 30,740 tonnes of urea, 23,600 tonnes of DAP, 6,430 tonnes of potash, 13,201 tonnes of complex fertilizer.
There is a stock of 19,918 tonnes of fertilizer, including those with private merchants and cooperative societies. Besides, the department will distribute nutritional kit and vermicompost to farmers at subsidised rate, Mr. Bommanahalli said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Ibrahim Maigur, Agriculture Department Joint Director T.S. Rudreshappa and Horticulture Department Deputy Director S.B. Diddimani and others were present.
