Buoyed by the good returns they got from Bt cotton last year, farmers of Dharwad district are after the ‘Kanaka’ variety of Bt cotton this kharif. They have shifted from the traditional soyabean and green gram seeds.
Good rains in the last week of May and the first week of June cheered the farmers who are busy with the sowing operations. Following violent incidents over the supply of seeds and chemical fertiliser witnessed in the district in 2008, the district administration is now cautious and has ensured that the farmers do not panic. Efforts are also on to convince farmers that other varieties of Bt cotton are as good as ‘Kanaka’. Experts say Kanaka is good only for certain types of soil.
The district received 158.9 mm rains till the second week of June with Dharwad taluk topping the list with 230.2 mm followed by Kalghatagi (160mm), Kundgol (152.2 mm) Navalgund (137.4 mm) and Hubli (114.4 mm). The condition in Dharwad and Kalghatgi taluks is conducive to immediate sowing. The department of agriculture has targeted 248,000 hectares for sowing in kharif season. Paddy, maize, soya and cotton are the major crops in the district.
So far, sowing has been completed on nearly 8,000 hectares in Dharwad, Kundgol and Kalghatgi taluk. Against the 8,000 hectares of sown area, Paddy is sown over 6,000 hectare, while soya and Bt cotton cover the remaining 2,000 hectare land. The Met department has predicted good rains this season. Hence, the department has distributed the required quantum of seeds and fertiliser to farmers beforehand.
