2005 was year of bumper crops

THE 2005 STORY

Apprehensions of Karnataka facing a drought situation for another year were put to rest in 2005 with the late revival of South West Monsoon.

Officials now estimate a bumper foodgrain and oilseeds production in the state. Overall, the state is set to surpass the production of 2000-01 (109.60 lakh tonnes of foodgrains and 15.45 lakh tonnes of oilseeds) during fiscal 2005-06.

The acreage under Kharif and Rabi and anticipated full achievement in summer indicates the state will surpass the 110 lakh tonnes of foodgrains (of this cereals constitute 101 lakh tonnes and pulses 9 lakh tonnes) and about 17 lakh tonnes in oilseeds during the current year.

A good rainfall during June-September helped increase acreage. This has given rise to hopes of a higher foodgrain output in 2005 than 2004. The area under Kharif crops was 72.70 lakh hectares, as against the normal 69 lakh hectares. The corresponding coverage of last Kharif was 72.25 lakh hectares.

An equally good post-monsoon rains in October-November also brightened the prospects for the main Rabi crop, wheat. However, the excess rainfall in many districts in July/August and again in September/October affected standing crops in about 1.98 lakh hectares and 42,000 hectares respectively.

The provisional estimates based on the feedback from field functionaries indicate that foodgrains production would be around 79.90 lakh tonnes against the set target of 82.10 lakh tonnes. Similarly, oilseed production estimates indicate an achievement of 11.64 lakh tonnes against the target of 12.79 lakh tonnes.

Excess to normal rainfall in October and November helped good coverage for Rabi crops. The reports from across the state by the state agriculture directorate indicate total coverage as 32.25 lakh hectares as against the target 33.65 lakh hectares.

However, the acrage under jowar, wheat, safflower and cotton is lesser than sunflower and bengal gram. Condition of Rabi crops is reported to be normal in general, except the severe incidence of Black Headed Hairy Cater Pillar (BHHC) and Necrosis Virus in sunflower in Bijapur, Bagalkot, Raichur, Koppal and Gulbarga districts.

Among oilseeds, sunflower area coverage is 6.69 lakh hectares against the target of 4.25 lakh hectares, an increase of 157 per cent. Among pulses, Bengalgram area coverage 4.98 lakh hectares against the target of 4.88 lakh hectares. The production of cereals is expected to touch 17.50 tonnes, pulses 3.72 lakh tonnes and oilseeds 2.55 lakh tonnes.

In view of satisfactory water level in most of the major reservoirs, major and minor irrigation tanks and enhanced ground water table, it is anticipated that summer production programme of 6.08 lakh hectares will be met. Sowing of summer groundnut and sunflower had already commenced in Gulbarga, Raichur, Haveri, Bellary and Koppal districts.

The state is likely to witness 2.94 lakh hectares under cereals (paddy 2.51 lakh hectares), pulses 26,000 hectares, oilseeds 2.62 lakh hectares (groundnut 2 lakh hectares and sunflower on 60,000 hectares).

In coastal districts transplanting of Rabi paddy and sowing of blackgram is under progress. Sowing of Rabi crops is complete in most of the northern districts. Sowing of summer crops like groundnut, sunflower and nursery preparations and transplanting of paddy is reported in Gulbarga, Bellary, Raichur, Koppal and Haveri. Harvesting of tur and sunflower was in progress in parts of Gulbarga and Bidar districts.

Crop damage

Apart from a bumper crops, it was a bad year for many farmers in northern Karnataka. The standing kharif crops were damaged on about 1.97 lakh hectares due to heavy to very heavy rainfall, flash floods and release of excess water from Maharashtra in July and August. However, the total crop loss in the state is around Rs 844 crore.

Again in September, standing crops on about 10,300 hectares in Bhalki, Bidar and Aurad taluks of Bidar district were affected by the heavy flow in the Manjra river.

In Belgaum district, maize in low-lying areas on about 5,449 hectares in Soundatti and Ramdurg taluks was affected by release of water from Malaprabha reservoir on September 22-23.

Similarly, standing crop was damaged on nearly 1,000 hectares in Gadag districts due to release of water from Navilutheertha reservoir into Malaprabha river on September 23.

Constraints

This year, sugarcane farmers in northern Karnataka faced shortage of sugarcane seedlings, following the devastation of sugarcane crop in the northern parts of the state due to flash floods in July and August.

Over 59,000 hectares of sugarcane crop was completely damaged in the rain and the farmers in the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot, the three main sugar growing belts in the state, were put to severe hardship.

Organic is the way

Karnataka took a giant step this year with the organisation of the country's first ever national fair on organic agriculture. The state is set to add another tag to its name. The city is now set to reposition itself as the centre of organic agriculture movement.

Karnataka, which is the first in the country to come out with an exclusive policy for organic agriculture as early as March 2004, is now in the middle of developing organic villages in every district.

The four-day national organic trade fair "" India Organic 2005 "" at Lalbagh brought all the stakeholders of organic farming under one common platform.

Another mega event, Krishi Mela, at the Hebbal agriculture university campus attracted a huge number of farmers.

APMC amendment

During the year, the state initiated steps to amend the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act amidst huge protest from the merchants. It is expected that the amendment to APMC Act will allow private companies to directly buy agriculture produce from farmers. Free competition among the increased number of buyers would mean that farmers get better prices and consumers get produce at lower prices.

According to Harsh Bahadur, MD, Metro Cash & Carry companies such as Metro Cash & Carry would invest into the agriculture supply chain to reduce wastages and build direct linkages with farmers. This would include training of farmers as well as setting up supply chain infrastructure in rural areas.

Last year through a programme of Metro in Karnataka over 18,000 sheep farmers were trained and their sheep vaccinated. The company has also invested in a collection and grading centre at Hoskote, near Bangalore (presently idle) which would help farmers increase their realisation and provide employment opportunities for the rural unemployed.