Continuous rainfall since June has helped farmers opt for brisk sowing during this kharif season. The monsoon has been satisfactory with Kalaburagi district recording 168 mm rainfall as against a normal average of 122 mm from June 1 to July 5.
As much as 59 % of the targeted area for kharif crops, both in rain-fed and irrigated areas, has already been covered in the district.
According to the Department of Agriculture, farmers have completed sowing in more than 4,43,823 hectares of farmland against a fixed target of 7,55,130 hectares for the season.
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Among foodgrains, pulses dominated the scenario with farmers completing sowing in 3.64 lakh hectares (60 %) of land against a target of 6.12 lakh hectares.
Sowing of black gram has been taken up in 27,686 hectares against a targeted area of 29,800 hectares (93 %) and green gram has been taken up in 50,482 hectares against a targeted area of 49,100 hectares (103 %). This figure of short-duration crops is likely to go up as farmers in some taluks in the district are still busy sowing.
Cereals have been sown in 4,385 hectares (25 %) as against a targeted area of 17,280 hectares, sowing of pulses has been taken up in 3,64,533 hectares (60 %) against a targeted area of 6,12,250 hectares and oilseeds have been sown in 8,408 hectares (21 %) as against a targeted area of 39,400 hectares.
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The district has so far successfully achieved 50 % cotton sowing against a total target of 56,200 hectares.
Chincholi taluk has seen sowing completed in 75 % of the targeted area under kharif cultivation, followed by Chitapur taluk with 70 %, Sedam 68 % , Aland taluk 61% and Afzalpur taluk with 57 %. The lowest sowing of 30 % was recorded in Jewargi taluk.
Meanwhile, sources in the Agriculture Department said that monsoon across the district this time was favourable which has helped farmers take up timely sowing operations.