Karnataka would not experience any shortage of chemical fertiliser and sowing seeds this Kharif season as the government has maintained adequate stocks, agriculture minister S A Raveendranath said today.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the state’s demand is for over 2.2 million tonnes of chemical fertiliser and 760,000 tonnes of various types of sowing seeds for the season. “So far, over 1.02 million tonnes of chemical fertliser has been supplied and 311,000 tonnes of stocks remain on hand,” he said. The state also maintained over 1.04 million tonnes of sowing seed stocks, as against the demand for 760,000 tonnes, he added.
Of the 7.46 million hectares expected to come under sowing, 4 million hectares have been sown, he said. The state has set a target of producing 120,000 tonnes of foodgrains this year.
Compared to last year, the state has witnessed deficit rainfall this year, he said adding that while 364 mm rainfall was recorded between June 1 to July 21 last year, it was only 320 mm during the same period this year. Meanwhile, revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy who held a meeting with department officials, said the government was contemplating cloud seeding in Linganamakki catchment area.
Drinking water was being supplied through tankers in 33 villages where the prob-lem is acute, he said. No shortage of fodder has been repor-ted from any part of the state, Reddy said.
