Even as the monsoon has been playing truant across the district with deficient rain recorded in June, the district administration and the Agriculture Department are hoping to bring more farmers under crop insurance coverage to protect them against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
Also, the Agriculture Department has kept a contingency plan ready for advising farmers on what to cultivate (like short-duration crops) just in case the rains fail even this month.
Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who spoke to the officials from the departments of agriculture and horticulture on the farm situation on Monday, said he has asked the officials to educate farmers on the need to enrol under the Karnataka Raitha Suraksha Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to avail benefits in case of crop loss.
He said the departments had printed information material in Kannada on PMFBY with a list of 25 crops of agriculture and horticulture covered under the scheme, cut-off dates for enrolment, and the premium amount. While the last date for enrolment for agricultural crops is August 14, July 30 is the last date for enrolment for horticultural crops.
While it is compulsory for farmers availing loans from banks and cooperative institutions to avail insurance coverage, other farmers have been requested to make use of the facility for crop protection.
Mr. Randeep said facilitation centres have been set up in 33 Raitha Samparka Kendras (RSKs) to guide farmers on enrolment to the crop insurance scheme which is a simple procedure. “I have told the departments to coordinate better with farmers,” he said.
In the wake of above normal pre-monsoon showers in the district, sowing was done on 2.28 lakh hectares in April and May of the 4 lakh hectares targeted for sowing. About 57% of the targeted area had been sown, he said, adding that 79% of the rain-fed areas had been sown with 3% sowing recorded in irrigated areas.
The Deputy Commissioner said the same cropping pattern as planned earlier will be continued in case monsoon becomes active this month.
Otherwise, farmers have to opt for short-duration paddy and ragi in August if rains fail in July.
The short-duration crops will be available with the department under the contingency plan.
The district required about 37,692 quintals of sowing seeds which includes 24,000 quintals of paddy seeds. Already, 1,900 quintals of paddy seeds have been distributed and 1,100 quintals stocked for distribution at the RSKs.
Other than RSKs, 71 Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) have been identified for distribution of sowing seeds to farmers in the district, Mr. Randeep said.
There was a demand for 1,10,614 tonnes of fertilizers, including 62,324 tonnes for distribution in June.
By the end of June, 49,665 tonnes of fertilizers were distributed and about 53,035 tonnes stocked.
