Monsoon is synonymous with greenery all over. Unfortunately, it looks like the monsoon has changed its course. Heavy rain which was lashing Malnad in the past has disappeared during this season.
The farmers are anxious over the agriculture activities, which were their source of occupation. The farmers have started gazing at the sky anticipating heavy rain, to continue the sowing activities in Chikmagalur district.
With the scanty rain, the sowing activities have come to a standstill in the district. Coffee, tea and arecanut plantations have started withering and the coffee growers are struggling to protect their plants from ‘Kandakoraka hula’ affecting the coffee plants.
The district had received an average of 168.7 mm rain the month of April, which was more when compared to last year. However, there was scanty rain in the month of May. In the month of June, the district received an average of 142.5 mm rain. The rain was not equally distributed among the district.
Few places in the district are yet to receive rainfall, which has affected the sowing activities, says farmers. On an average, Chikmagalur taluk gets 115 mm rain in the month of May. However, this year it was only 64.1 mm.
The average rain in Mudigere taluk in the month of May is 126 mm. However, this year, taluk received 48.3 mm rain. In the month of June, the taluk received 243 mm rain instead of 436 mm.
Koppa taluk had received only 183.8 mm rain in the month of June as against 526 mm. Sringeri had received only 376 mm rain as against 718 mm rain in the month of June. Tarikere had received 16.4 mm rain in the month of June. Kadur taluk had received 46.5 mm.
In Chikmagalur taluk, Lakya, Kasaba, Ambale hoblis received scanty rain.
Hasiru Sene district president K Shashidhar said “there is still time to carry out sowing of paddy. However, scanty rain has affected sowing of potato, ginger, maize, sunflower, groundnuts in the district. The farmers have started selling cattle for cheaper rate. The government should declare Chikmagalur as drought-hit district.”
‘Only 15 pc sowing’
With the delay in rainfall, only 15 per cent of the sowing activities have been completed in the district. The target was to grow kharif crops in 1,61,730 hectare.
However, the sowing has been completed in 24,415 hectare. The target is to grow maize in 26,700 hectare. The sowing has been completed in 2,365 hectare. Without rain, the farmers can not sow maize seeds in Tarikere, Kadur and Chikmagalur taluks, says agriculture officers.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Agriculture department Joint Director Raju said “Raagi is grown in 48,000 hectare and paddy in 41,900 hectare in the district. The sowing of raagi and paddy can be taken up in the month of July as well. The farmers need not worry in the district.”