The sowing for the kharif season is slowly but steadily picking up in this agriculturally intensive district, thanks to the reasonably good south west monsoon so far. Barring Afzalpur taluk the rains have been by and large good.

According to Agriculture department, sowing has taken place in about 25 per cent of the targeted kharif area by June 23.

The department this year is planning to go for kharif crops in an area of 8.40 lakh hectare including 1.11 lakh ha in irrigation and 7.28 lakh ha in rainfed area.

Joint Director of Agriculture J M Thippeswamaiah said,  so far sowing has taken place in 2.11 lakh ha accounting for 25.22 per cent of the kharif targeted area. This include 9,413 ha under irrigation and 2.01 lakh ha in rainfed area.

The normal rainfall of the district for the month of June is 108.26 mm and till June 23 the district has recorded 100.34 mm.

The normal rainfall of the district from January to June is 177.49 mm and the actual rain this season till June 23 is 192.41 mm. Due to renewed rains the sowing operations have been revived in the district in all the 48 hoblis.

Barring DAP fertiliser the availability of other fertilisers is satisfactory, the joint director said. To overcome the shortage of tur seeds the department has taken step for alternate arrangement.

Taluk-wise rainfall is as follows. Number in bracket indicate normal rain of the month. Afzalpur - 21.1 mm (102.2 mm); Aland - 46.3 (104.6); Chincholi - 188.8 (126.1); Chittapur - 133.7 (118.4); Gulbarga - 34.2 (107.7); Jewargi - 45.4 (98.2);

Sedam - 86.6 (117); Shahapur - 233.4 (99.4); Surapur - 95.4 (107.8); Yadgir - 118.4 mm (101.2 mm).
Taluk-wise sowing in hectares is as follows. Figures in bracket indicate the targeted area. Afzalpur - 1,3425 ha (67,050 ha);

Aland -42,256 (1,02,340); Chincholi - 32,457 (81,725); Chittapur - 11,979 (82,900); Gulbarga - 1,876 (87,250); Jewargi - 7,789 (1,22,575); Sedam-16,727 (55,175); Shahapur - 28,126 (82,540); Surapur - 24,947 (88,450); Yadgir - 32,318 ha (69,910 ha).