Sowing operations commence

The onset of monsoon at the end of first week of June has cheered up the farmers in Dharwad district and the enthusiastic farmers have commenced sowing operations.

The district received 37.2 rains on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, Dharwad taluk received 39 MM, Hubli taluk 40.2 mm, Kalghatagi 56.6 mm, Navalgund 36 mm and Kundgol 14.2 mm. The rain on a single day has enabled the commencement of sowing operations. With the rain giving reprive on Monday the farmers were off to the fields with all the equipments.

Large groups of farmers were seen in front of Raitha Samparka Kendras to buy seeds and fertiliser in the district. Most of the farmers have already stocked required quantities of seeds and fertiliser.

Sources in the agriculture department said 80 per cent of the farmers had stocked the seeds while the remaining 20 percent were in the process of procuring them.

Organic farming is also getting popular in the region with farmers opting for organic seeds. Several farmers were seen selling the organic seeds in Dharwad on Tuesday.

The situation is conducive for sowing groundnut, soya bean, green gram and maize. The officials informed that there would be no shortage of inputs. Already five tonnes of chemical fertiliser out of the total stock of 10 tonnes has been distributed to the farmers. Another five tonnes would be distributed through private firms and cooperative societies.

Several tanks in the district which had dried up during summer are now getting filled and the parched areas are turning green.