Rice farmers of Mysore district have not taken up sowing in rain-dependent areas yet due to inadequate moisture in the soil.
As of Tuesday, the district recorded a rainfall of 251.8 mm against the normal 287 mm. Last year, the rainfall in the district was above normal, at 297 mm. June recorded a rainfall of only 48.6 mm, while the average is 66.6 mm.
H D Kote, Mysore (110 per cent) and Periyapatna (141 per cent) recorded excess rainfall.
The remaining four taluks have received below average.While T Narasipur has recorded near average rain (99 per cent), Nanjangud taluk received the least 9 per cent, followed by K R Nagar (46 per cent) and Hunsur (60 per cent).
January and February saw no rains. Rainfall in March was excess of 48.2 per cent over the average of 13 mm, while last year the district witnessed heavy rains of 135.2 mm, giving a boost to agricultural operations.
Rains, however, continued during the next three months, though below average.
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May witnessed only 99.6 mm against 135.3 mm, while June 48.1 mm against the average of 66.6 mm.
The overall rainfall position was 251.8 mm against the average of 287 mm, while in 2008-09, it was as high as 334.5 mm. Instead of 16 days, it rained only for 12 days, covering 88 per cent of the general rainfall.
Encouraged by the early pre-monsoon rains, farmers took up cultivation. But, inadequate rains subsequently resulted in a shortfall of 30 per cent in its output during June-end, almost the same position as last year.
Cultivation of cereals and pulses suffered substantially, with a coverage of only 48 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively.
Against the target of 96,505 hectares, cereals were cultivated on 46,274 hectares, and pulses 46.720 hectares, while the target was 87,785 hectares.
Coverage of commercial crops touched 94 per cent (120,265 against 127,730 hectares) and oilseeds 71 per cent (19,571 against 27,680 hectares). overall, cultivation coverage under rainfed is 232,830 hectares against the normal 334,700 hectares by now.
Scanty rains resulted in stunted growth. The next 20 days are crucial for farmers to save their crops and for taking up fresh cultivation, an Agricultural Department official told Business Standard today.
“Fortunately, there’s been no dry spell so far. Just enough showers have occurred resulting in improved targets. However, under irrigated cultivation, the coverage is only 4 per cent so far, 5,264 hectares against the 2009-10 target of 120,430 hectares.”
“The next 20-30 days, therefore, are crucial both for irrigated and rain-dependent areas. If heavy monsoon rains occur in the catchment areas of Kodagu and Wynad, Cauvery and Kabini respectively, farmers will be able to heave a sigh of relief,” he said.