Record horticulture crop likely this year

Karnataka is all set to see a record produce of horticultural crops this kharif season. The area under potato and onion cultivation is higher than normal with potato being grown in 40,601 hectares as against 30,000 hectares.Onion has been grown on 1,05,784 hectares as against normal area of 85,390 hectares till September 10.

Hassan contributes 65 per cent to the state's potato crop in the kharif season. In the district, the area under potato has increased by 181.69 per cent of the normal area.

In Karnataka, potato grown on 18,614.80 hectares has been damaged due to the heavy rains. In Dharwad district alone, crop damage is estimated at 30 per cent, in Belgaum district, 25 per cent of the crop has been damaged due to heavy rains. Chitradurga, Dharwad and Gadag are the major onion growing districts.

In Chitradurga, farmers have started sowing and transplanting the saplings due to the 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, the tomato and chilli growing areas have shrunk. Tomato sowing has taken place on 15,262 hectares as against 23,000 hectares. And chilli cultivation has taken place on 96,617 hectares as against 1,73,650 hectares.

The 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 too the area under tomato increased 255 per cent due to a good monsoon.

In Chitradurga, the crop has been affected by powdery mildew and in Belgaum, the crop is in the flowering stage. About 145.6 hectares of crop has reportedly been damaged due to rains.