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Sowing of foodgrains, oilseeds and cash crops is in full swing across Karnataka, thanks to the copious rains. The farmers, who have suffered drought for two consecutive years, are happy with the arrival and spread of monsoon across the state.
The sowing was above normal across Karnataka in the first three weeks since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 1. The sowing of various food crops, oilseeds and commercial crops has begun in all 176 taluks of the state.
The state as a whole has recorded 22 per cent higher rainfall during the period from June 1 to June 17, 2013. The state recorded an actual amount of 128 mm of rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 96 mm which is classified under excess category by the Indian Meteorological Department.
For the period between June 1 and June 20, sowing has been completed in about 1.86 million hectares, which is about 25 per cent of the total targeted area for the current year, according to data available with the department of agriculture. For the corresponding period last year, sowing was completed on 729,000 hectares.
The state agriculture department has set a target of 7.42 million hectares during the Kharif season this year, which is about 41,000 hectares less than last year. The farmers could complete sowing on about 6.28 million hectares out of the targeted area of 7.47 million hectares during the last Kharif owing to shortage of rainfall.
For the present Kharif (2013-14) the state is aiming to cover 5.09 million hectares under foodgrains and 1.28 million hectares are planned for oilseeds besides 1.05 million hectares under cashcrops.
The state is targeting a foodgrain production of 9.42 million tonnes during the Kharif season, which is about 8 per cent higher than last year's production. According to second advance estimates, the foodgrain production was about 8.75 million tonnes in Kharif season last year. However, the entire year's foodgrain production is pegged at 12.5 million tonnes as per the second advance estimates. The production was below the target last year owing to large-scale drought across the state. Out of 176 taluks, as many as 126 taluks were reeling under the drought last year. For the present Kharif season, the farmers in the state have started sowing for maize, jowar, greengram, groundnut, castor, sunflower, cotton, and tobacco in south interior parts. In northern parts of the state, sowing is in full swing for tur, bajra, blackgram, til, soybean. The sowing for paddy and ragi will commence from the first week of July.
Sowing was above normal in 14 districts, normal in four districts, below normal in five districts and negligible in seven districts till June 21, 2013, according to information reaching the department of agriculture.
Out of 176 taluks, 112 taluks have received excess rainfall, 41 taluks have got normal rains and 23 taluks have been classified under deficit category during the period from June 1 to June 17. Last year, for the same period, rainfall was excess in five taluks, normal in six taluks and scanty in 124 taluks.
