Bumper horticulture crop in Karnataka

Karnataka is in for record horticultural crops this kharif season. The main crops like potato, onion have witnessed record sowing, more than the normal area covered in many districts.

The other two crops "" tomato and chilli "" area grown has declined due to excess rainfall. Potato has been sown in 40,601 hectares as against normal area of 30,000 hectares. Onion has been grown in 1,05,784 hectares as against normal area of 85,390 hectares till September 10. Hassan contributes 65 per cent of state's potato during Kharif season. In the district, the area under potato has increased by 181.69 per cent of the normal area.

In Karnataka, around 18,614.80 hectares of potato crop has been damaged due to heavy rains. In Dharwad district alone, crop damage is estimated at 30 per cent, in Belgaum district, 25 per cent crop has been damaged due to heavy rains.

Chitradurga, Dharwad and Gadag are major onion growing districts. In Chitradurga, farmers have started sowing and transplanting due to good rains. Area has increased by 16,344 hectares and expansion under the crop has almost come to an end. No crop damage has been witnessed in Dharwad.

Due to excess rains, tomato and chilli growing areas have shrunk. Tomato sowing has taken place in 15,262 hectares as against 23,000 hectares. And Chilli cultivation has taken place in 96,617 hectares as against 1,73,650 hectares.

Major tomato growing districts are Bangalore (urban and rural), Kolar, Davanagere, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Belgaum, Haveri and Gadag.

In Gadag, the crop area has increased by 159 per cent and in Davanagere also area under tomato has increased by 255 per cent due to good monsoon. In Chitradurga crop has been affected by powdery mildew and in Belgaum, the crop is in flowering stage. About 145.6 hectares of crop has been reported to be damaged due to rains.

Chilli growing districts in Karnataka are Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belgaum, Hassan and Chitradurga. In Hassan district around 22 hectares of crop has been damaged due to heavy rains. In Dharwad no major crop loss has been reported.

In Gadag and Bangalore rural districts area under chilli has increased due to good monsoon rains. In Belgaum district 181.90 hectares has been affected due to heavy rains. But In Shimoga area under chilli has come down due to increase of maize cultivation.