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Deficit rainfall hits khariff crops

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Our Correspondent Mysore
Deficit rainfall has hit cultivation of khariff crops in Mysore district. The entire district has received less than the normal rainfall of 390.8 mm from January to July 4 this year. The district received only 293.1 mm rainfall against last year's 463.6 mm during the same period. All the seven taluks are hit.
 
The worst-hit taluks are Mysore and K R Nagar. Rainfall in Mysore is 200.8mm, against the normal of 366.1 mm, while last year it stood at 506.1 mm. K R Nagar, which recorded 509.1 mm rainfall last year, received so far 157.7 mm only, against the normal of 345.9 mm.
 
Of the seven taluks, Hunsur received the maximum rainfall of 339.4 mm, almost the same as last year (351.4 mm), while the normal is 394.6 mm. H D Kote, which generally gets less rainfall, also recorded better rainfall this time with 428.2 mm against the normal 512.2 mm. Last year, the taluk received 548.8 mm rain. While T Narasipur taluk recorded 266.4 (normal 303.5), Nanjangud received 289.9 mm (341.9) and Periyapatna 369.4 mm (471.7).
 
As a result, the coverage of kharif crop in the district has fallen below the target of the Agriculture Department and covers only 56 per cent. Against the overall target of 3,89,648 hectares, cultivation has been possible only in 2,17,513 hectares. This includes the rain-fed area of 2,09,805 against the target of 2,88,811. The coverage of rain-fed area 73 per cent.
 
The shortfall has been mainly in the foodgrain production with the shortfall being 76 per cent. The coverage so far has been 45,331 hectares, while the target was 1,85,518 hectares. Pulses have been cultivated on only 44 per cent of the targetted area of 65,414. The area cultivated is only 29,036 hectares. In case of the oil seeds, the shortfall has been only around 3,000 hectares.
 
Against the target of 23,874, cultivation has been taken up on 20,661 hectares (87 per cent). The coverage under commercial crops has already exceeded the target of 1,14,842 hectares. The area under these crops is 1,22,485 hectares (107 per cent), while shortfall has been seen in cotton and sugarcane cultivation.
 
While the crops are in their different stages of cultivation, pests have hit cotton, sugarcane and groundnut, and the authorities have initiated steps to combat the same.
 
The agricultural authorities have anticipated a demand of 28,559 quintal seeds for the current khariff season. They have taken up a programme to distribute 23,722 quintal of seeds to small and marginal farmers under the subsidy scheme, for which Rs 4.09 crore has been set apart. The department has stocked 588 quintal seeds at its centres and distributed 653 quintals.
 
With the monsoon season still on, the authorities hope that more area will be cultivated in the next few weeks.

 
 

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First Published: Jul 14 2005 | 12:00 AM IST

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