Oil seeds exceed target in Mysore

Even as the khariff season has almost come to an end and south-west monsoon rain exceeded over the previous year rainfall, crop coverage in Mysore district is more or less the same as the last year.

Oil seeds and commercial crops dominate the crop area and foodgrains and pulses falling short of the target area. Of the oil seeds, farmers have given priority for groundnut covering 14,320 hectares against the target of 8,213 hectares.

While cultivation in the rain-fed area has exceeded to 2,97,256 hectares from last year?s 2,88,811 hectares, the percentage reaching 103 mark, it has fallen short by 30 per cent in the irrigated area, reaching 73,560 hectares as against 1,06,674 hectares the previous year. The overall coverage is 3,70,816 hectares, while the target set is 3,89,648 hectares for the season. The coverage accounts for 95 per cent, according to the figures available as on September 12.

The normal rainfall in the district is 555.8 mm, while the actual fall is 628.9 mm. It had rained 605.8 mm for the same period last year. While it rained 52 days last year, this year rainfall has occurred for 61 days. Excess than the normal rainfall was recorded from June to September, the highest being in August when it was recorded 117.5 mm against the average of 76 mm. Mysore and K R Nagar taluks have received less than the average rainfall.

The requirement of seeds is estimated at 28,559 quintals. It is proposed to distribute 23,722 quintal seeds at 50 per cent subsidy for small and marginal farmers, for which Rs 4.09 crore have been earmarked. So far, 20,473.85 quintal seeds have been distributed, while 150 quintal stocks are held at farmers' contact centres.

Excess rainfall has damaged crops in four taluks, T Narasipur recording the highest loss in 1,383.6 hectares (Rs 1.22 crore loss) followed by Hunsur, the loss being in 630 hectares (Rs 1.05 crore), Nanjangud 1.7 hectares (Rs 21,000) and Periyapatna 2 hectares (Rs 15,000).

T Narasipur received 649.33 mm rainfall (normal is 489.3 mm), Hunsur 628.81 (542.5), Nanjangud 618.3 (482.3), Periyapatna 836.4 (637.9) and H D Kote 876.1 (688.5). In Mysore taluk, rain was deficient by 150 mm and in K R Nagar 105 mm.

Pests in groundnut are noticed in all the taluks. Cotton, sugarcane and groundnut are affected in some places. Rest of the crops are in different stages of progress.

Crop-wise, the area covered and the target set in the district are as follows: Rice 62,450 (94,205), jowar (hybrid) 8,885 (14,270), jowar (local) 4,400 (nil), ragi 62,107 (59,971), hybrid maize 15,569 (17,072), pulses 61,292 (65,414), oil seeds 30,436 (23,874), and commercial crops 1,25,678 (1,14,842).

T Narasipur shows lowest cultivated area of 59 per cent, while Hunsur the highest of 126 per cent, followed by K R Nagar (98), Periyapatna (95), Mysore (93), Nanjangud (90) and H D Kote (86).