The month of June seldom brings cheers to the people of Gulbarga in general and the farming community in particular. The first month of the south west monsoon which normally remains dry with a couple of rains in the last week of the month, this time poured copiously transforming the entire dry and parched lands of the district in to a green pasture. The unexpected bountiful monsoon has helped a lot in recharging the more or less depleted ground water table, ensured green fodder for cattle and brought down the demand for electricity. However the rain bounty also has an element of adversity as it affected sowing process in the district.
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal may have cast its dreaded spell in several parts of Andhra Pradesh including the neighbouring Telegnana and Rayalaseema districts but the same has turned blessings for this dry yet agriculturally intensive district. As against the normal rainfall of 108.26 mm for the month of June the district has actually received 202.8 mm.
This is really unusual for the district which is always known for receiving less than the normal rainfall in the maiden month of monsoon. The copious rains in a single month also exceeded the cumulative rain for the first six months period. From January to June the normal rainfall of he district was 177.49 mm and the actual rainfall is 241.29 mm.
Barring Afzalpur taluk, all other nine taluks have received excess rains. In a couple of taluks like Chincholi and Shahapur, the actual rainfall was three times the normal one. However, Afzalpur is an exceptionally short rainfall taluk which has recorded an abysmal 63.1 mm against the normal rainfall of 102.2 mm. “Only Afzalpur taluk has maintained the typical climatic character of Gulbarga district”, remarked an agriculture officer.
Unforeseen
The copious rains are totally unexpected and unforeseen as none had predicted this kind of situation for the district. The only adversity it has brought is the extension of sowing period in several parts of the district. Due to continuous rains, farmers could not venture in to kharif sowing.
“By this time, sowing should have taken place in 50 per cent of the area. Now the sowing is only about 35 per cent’’, said K Ragahavendra Rao, technical assistant for agriculture.
From the last one week, there have been no rains and this has resulted in hectic sowing in nook and corner of the district. Farmers who are apprehensive of more rains are leaving no chance to complete sowing at the earliest possible as the clouds threaten to pour almost every day. It is  required to complete kharif sowing operations particularly tur (red gram) by the end of July as late sowing will bring lot of problems including pest menace.
The agriculture department sources said the incessant rains have also caused some damage to  crops which were at the germinating stage and at other places the seeds have been washed away. The department has undertaken a detailed survey in this regard. At several places, re-sowing has been recommended.
All said and done, despite with an inherent adversity, the unusual excess rains have delighted the hearts of people.
If rains don’t play truant in coming months, the grand beginning may end up in a bumper harvest.
Taluk-wise rainfall for the month of June is as follows. (The figures in bracket are the normal rainfall).  Afzalpur - 63.1 mm (102.2 mm); Aland - 175.3 (104.6); Chincholi - 304.2 (126.1); Chittapur -272 (118.4); Gulbarga - 117.7 (107.7); Jewargi - 152.8 (98.2); Sedam - 191.9 (117); Shahapur -313.7 (99.4); Surapur - 157.9 (107.8); Yadgir - 279.4 mm (101.2 mm).