Rain shortfall curtails crop areas in Mysore

Inadequate rains have brought down the area under crops from targeted numbers in Mysore district.November month has recorded less than the average rainfall.

As a result, the cultivation of different crops has taken place on 421,879 hectares against the targeted area of 431,579 hectares, a shortfall of nearly 10,000 hectares, according to officials of the Department of Agriculture here.

A total of 29,700 quintal seeds have been distributed to small land-holders at concessional rates. It was targeted to distribute 29,828 quintal seeds. Rs 366.14 crore financial assistance has been extended to 90,034 beneficiaries.

So far, 78,123 tonnes of chemical fertiliser has been distributed to farmers in the district, while the proposal to distribute the same was 96,300 tonnes. The district has been supplied with 102,851 tonnes of fertiliser for the season, including the initial stock of 24,139 tonnes. After distribution, the department has been left with a stock of 24,728 tonnes, a progress review meeting of the Mysore Zilla Panchayat was told on Tuesday.

Under the national Jalanayana watershed scheme, Rs 16 lakh has been sanctioned for various works an 500 hectares in H D Kote, of the Rs 32 lakh grant made available. The works would be taken up shortly, the meeting was informed.

Zilla Panchayat President K P Siddalingaswamy directed the Chamundeswari Electricity Supply Corporation officials to ensure adequate supply of power to villages from where paucity of drinking water had been reported.