As the monsoon continues to play truant across the state this year, the agriculture operations have been affected to a large extent. Owing to the shortage of rain, the total area sown for kharif crops as on July 16, 2012, was 2.08 million hectares, which is about 52 per cent of the normal coverage of about 4.03 million hectares in the state. Compared to same period last year, the sowing was just about 64 per cent of the 3.26 million hectares.
During the period, from June 1, 2012, to July 22, 2012, the state as a whole recorded an actual amount of 244 mm of rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 393 mm with percentage departure from normal is 38 per cent lower and the state as a whole has been classified under the deficit category. This is also the second lowest rainfall during this period in the last 42 years, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The rainfall was above normal in one district (Kolar), normal in five districts and deficit in 24 districts.
As far as food grains are concerned, the sowing was done in about 1.17 million hectares, which is just about 54 per cent of the normal coverage of 2.55 million hectares. Of this, cereals accounted for 681,000 hectares (Normal coverage of over 1.61 million hectares) and pulses 489,000 lakh hectares (Normal coverage of 933,000 hectares).
The sowing for oilseeds was done in about 257,000 hectares (normal coverage of 934,000 hectares) and the coverage under cash crops was 658,000 hectares (against the mormal coverage of 553,000 hectares).
The state agriculture department has set a target of 7.47 million hectares for the kharif season of 2012. As on July 16, sowing status was above normal in two districts (Chamarajanagar and Bidar), normal in five districts (Kolar, Mysore, Hassan, Kodagu and Uttar Kannada), below normal in 22 districts and negligible in one district (Bangalore Urban).
Among cereals, the coverage for rice and maize was better than other crops. Among pulses, the coverage under tur, blackgram, cowpea and others were better than others. The sowing was above normal for cotton and sugarcane during the period, while it was near normal for tobacco. Among oilseeds, except for soyabean, the sowing was far below normal for all other oilseeds.
During the period from June 1 to July 16, rainfall was excess in Kolar district, deficit in Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban, Chamarajanagara, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Mandya, Mysore, Ramanagara and Tumkur districts. Among the 63 taluks in South Interior Karnataka, rainfall was excess in four taluks, normal in four taluks, deficit in 42 taluks and scanty in 13 taluks.
Rainfall was normal in Bidar, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Yadgir districts and deficit in Bagalkote, Belgaum, Bellary,
Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Koppala districts. Among the 69 taluks in North Interior Karnataka, rainfall was excess in two taluks, normal in 19 taluks, deficit in 37 taluks and scanty in 11 taluks.
The rainfall was deficit in Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Kodagu and Shimoga districts. Among the 25 taluks in Malnad region, rainfall was deficit in 17 taluks and scanty in eight taluks. In coastal region, rainfall was deficit in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. Among the 19 taluks, rainfall was deficit in 17 taluks and scanty in two taluks.
