Karnataka ups rabi acreage target

Karnataka is likely to raise its target for rabi crop acreage, keeping in mind the good monsoon which has led to an extended period of cultivation this year.

The expectations are that acreage, this year, is likely to be higher than the last, because of better moisture levels and adequate water in storage areas.

The state agriculture department has revised upward the total area targeted to come under rabi cultivation to 44 lakh hectares from 39 lakh hectares achieved last year.

"The additional 5 lakh hectares is to come from tank-irrigated areas (3 lakh hectares) and by bringing in flood affected areas (2 lakh hectares)," said G Prakash, director of agriculture, Karnataka government.

These are early days for rabi cultivation and till now sowing is negligible in 16 districts, below normal in two districts, normal in one and above normal in six districts. The state's rabi acreage as of October 10 is 4.68 lakh hectares, marginally down by 0.14 lakh hectares, compared with last year.

According to the "Agriculture operations and crop condition report" prepared by the Karnataka agriculture department, in north interior Karnataka rabi acreage was 15.24 per cent and in south interior Karnataka 6.11 per cent.

In cereals, rabi coverage of 0.86 lakh hectares has been achieved till October 10, as against normal coverage of 2.50 lakh hectares till date and total target of 18.33 lakh hectares.

The coverage under jowar, maize and wheat is less than the coverage for the corresponding period of last year, while the rice, ragi and minor millets' acreage is more than the that for the corresponding period of last year.

In rice, coverage as of October 10 is 0.01 lakh hectare (normal coverage 0.03 lakh hectare), jowar 0.76 lakh hectare (2.25 lakh hectare), ragi 0.01 lakh hectare (0.15 lakh hectare), maize 0.06 lakh hectare (0.02 lakh hectare), and wheat 0.01 lakh hectare (0.05 lakh hectare).

For pulses, actual coverage as of October 10 is 0.44 lakh hectare, against normal coverage till date of 0.47 lakh hectare and overall target of 7.12 lakh hectare.

Total pulses coverage is less than that for the corresponding period of last year by 0.50 lakh hectare. In Bengal gram, actual coverage is 0.34 lakh hectare (normal coverage 0.10 lakh hectare). In horsegram, actual coverage is 0.08 lakh hectare (0.35 lakh hectare).

In oilseeds, actual coverage as of October 10 is 2.60 lakh hectare, against the target of 5.53 lakh hectare and normal overall coverage of 1.47 lakh hectare. In sunflower, actual coverage is 2.51 lakh hectare (normal coverage 1.35 lakh hectare), and linseed 0.02 lakh hectare (0.02 lakh hectare).

For cash crops, actual coverage as of October 10 is 0.79 lakh hectare. The target is 2.67 lakh hectare and normal coverage 0.38 lakh hectare. In cotton, actual coverage is 0.75 lakh hectare. (Normal coverage is 0.38 lakh hectare).