Karnataka's food grain production set to fall 2.3% in FY15

During kharif season, area under oilseeds falls significantly

Karnataka’s food grain production is set to witness a marginal dip of 2.3 per cent to 13 million tonnes for the 2014-15 over the previous year. The fall in production is mainly due to a deficit rainfall and dry spell during the second fortnight of June, the first week of July, August and September in major parts of north and south interior districts last year. This affected the rain-fed crops over an area of 1.82 million hectares.

Major crops that were affected included red gram, soyabean, maize, green gram, groundnut, ragi, bajra, sunflower, cotton and sugarcane. Cumulative rainfall from June 1 to September 30, 2014 was 833.37 mm as against a normal rainfall of 838.70 mm, a drop of one per cent, according to Economic Survey of Karnataka 2014-15.

As a result of the decline in the production of food grains, the rate of growth of agriculture for FY15 is estimated at 4.5 per cent as against a growth of 9.4 per cent during 2013-14.

Primary estimates based on the progress in the area coverage under various kharif and Rabi crops, the likely shortfall in yield on account of the dry spell / excess rainfall in some parts indicate a production of 11.47 million tonnes of cereals and 1.52 million tonnes of pulses as against the target of 11.91 million tonnes and 1.58 million tonnes respectively.

Rainfall during June saw a deficit of 41 per cent. During July, the rainfall was normal. The Southwest monsoon turned to be active over interior Karnataka from August 19 to August 31. All northern districts including Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri received excess rainfall. Crops over an area of about 156,000 hectares were affected by excess rainfall.

Rainfall during August was higher by 41 per cent as against the normal. During September, rainfall was deficit in major parts of the North Interior Karnataka (except Haveri district), Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts of South Interior Karnataka.

During the kharif season, area coverage under cereals, pulses and sugarcane was near normal, while a significant decline was observed in oilseeds. But, the area coverage under cotton and soyabean was at an all-time high due to the crop diversification in northern districts. Area under Rabi was lesser on account of the poor rains during the northeast monsoon period in majority of the districts. A satisfactory storage of water in a majority of the irrigation reservoirs is expected to give scope to a normal summer production programme, the Economic Survey said.

Oilseeds production is anticipated to be 1.16 million tonnes as against the target of 1.48 million tonnes. The production of cotton is likely to be 2.05 million bales as against the target of 1.31 million bales on account of a higher area coverage.

“The shortfall in production of pulses and oilseeds can be attributed to the crop diversification, decline in area coverage and a stunted growth of rainfed crops across major parts of the south and north interior Karnataka.

According to the revised advanced estimates of the agriculture department, sugarcane production for 2014-15 was projected at 39.71 million tonnes which is a year-on-year growth of 4.8 per cent. Tobacco production for the year is projected to grow 22.2 per cent to 110,000 tonnes in 2013-14.