This story is from June 16, 2019

Target area of cultivation reduced

Delayed monsoon has dashed the hopes of farmers who wanted to grow green gram, black gram and soybean this kharif season.
Target area of cultivation reduced
Dharwad district received 40% less rainfall during the pre-monsoon season
HUBBALLI: Delayed monsoon has dashed the hopes of farmers who wanted to grow green gram, black gram and soybean this kharif season.
According to data sourced by the agricultural department, this year the district witnessed around 40% deficit rainfall during the pre-monsoon season.
This year, 2.45 lakh hectares of land is targeted for sowing. Due to scanty rainfall, a majority of the farmers have not sown green gram, a major crop of the area.
In Kalghatagi and Alnavar, paddy is being sown.
In 2017, farmers suffered losses due to scanty rainfall and around 90% of cultivable land was covered under sowing operation for Kharif. Sowing activity began late last year as the district did not receive expected rain in June and first week of July.
By June 15 this year, around 30% of sowing was completed. Last year the target area for sowing was 2.31 lakh hectares.
The agriculture department said that major crop of the season, maize is targeted to sow in an area of 36,999 hectares against last year's the target of 42,824 hectares. Green gram is targeted on 53,261 hectares whereas last year target was 35,592 hectares. Groundnut will be sown on 31,702 hectares against last year's 29,532 hectares. Soybean will be sown on 39,899 hectares against last years' target of 36,675 hectares. Hybrid cotton is targeted on 47,054 hectares and last time, the target area was 47,749 hectares.

Agriculture department joint director Rudreshappa T S said that the farming community is depressed as the district has not received good rainfall so far. "Sowing activity must pick up and monsoon has to get intensified. The department has made arrangement of all seeds. The farmers can avail the benefit of agricultural machines for the activity which would be available to them at Raitha Sampark Kendra on rent basis," he said.
To encourage farming in the rain-deficit areas, the department is encouraging farmers to grow drought-resistant millets such as foxtail millet, horse gram, groundnut varieties which consume less water. The department would give an incentive of Rs 1,000 per acre for growing millets, said an officer.
"I have 12 acres of land planned to grow green gram and groundnut. The less has made us worry a lot. Our area has not received a good rainfall," said Kumar Mulkipatil, a farmer from Annigeri.
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