Ragi is all set to lead the market in old Mysuru region, overtaking paddy in terms of production in three of five districts during the current harvesting season.
The harvesting and threshing of ragi, the staple diet in this region, grown in the kharif season, is in full swing in Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts. About 90% of the ragi threshing activity has been completed and the produce has reached the market and godowns.
While the coverage of ragi is zero in Kodagu, cultivation of paddy is more than ragi in Mysuru. The target of sowing ragi exceeded significantly in the other three districts.
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The arrival of ragi is expected to cross 71,74,342 tonnes after the ongoing harvesting season across the region. Paddy production is estimated to be around 5,79,345 tonnes, said officials at the Department of Agriculture. Statistics with the department show that the combined coverage of ragi was 2,20,749 hectares, while the target was 1,91,269 hectares. It was estimated that the farmers would transplant paddy seedlings in 2,62,822 hectares. However, the coverage remained at 1,15,869 hectares. Hence, the production of paddy will decline to 5.79 lakh tonnes against the target of 13 lakh tonnes, while ragi yield will be increased to nearly 7.18 lakh tonnes against the target of 6.21 lakh tonnes.
According to officials at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC), in all four districts (except Kodagu), the cultivation of ragi has overtaken paddy by crossing the targets because of various reasons.
The fear of escalation of Cauvery water-sharing related disputes and scanty rainfall, the State government’s decision of not releasing water for irrigation in the Cauvery basin, and a massive campaign against sowing/cultivating water intensive crops had made farmers opt for ragi and other semi-arid crops, said a Joint Director of Agriculture of one district.
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One hectare of coverage could produce at least 32 to 38 quintals of ragi and around 50 quintals of paddy, officials at the APMC in Mandya and Kodagu said.
Procurement centres
Meanwhile, the district administrations – except that of Kodagu – in the region are all set to open ragi procurement centres to help the ragi cultivators fetch remunerative prices for their agricultural produce.
The State government has decided to procure ragi at the minimum support price (MSP) through Karnataka State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation.
The centres in Mandya commenced purchasing ragi from farmers from January 22, Kumuda Sharath, Deputy Director, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, told The Hindu .