Scanty rain imperils ragi crops

Only 84 pc of sowing has been completed; ragi withering at many places

While some farmers waited endlessly to sow the ragi seeds, others who had already completed the sowing process face testing times. Sowing has been completed in 85,668 hectares, out of the total of 1.02 lakh hectares in the district.

Sowing

As much as 90 per cent of the sowing of the chief crop in the district, ragi, has been completed in the district on 56,131 hectares of land.
Some farmers took up sowing even in the last week of August.
During the monsoon this year, there was only drizzling in the district and no heavy rain.

This was of not much use to the farmers. The tanks and other water bodies have not been filled this year. It has been a bad year for those taking up agriculture on dry land
this year.

This has resulted in the crops withering at many places. A report will be submitted to the government after
reviewing the situation, agriculture department joint director Chikkanna told Deccan
Herald.

Sustainity

“The post monsoon showers should have started by now. The crops can be sustained for a week now.

But if the rains fail even after that, it could mean trouble for the agriculturists in the district,” said N R Chandrashekhar, a farmer from Nenamanahalli.

With the deweeding of the ragi crop having been completed, it needs more rain. So also for the groundnuts.

Or else, the two major crops of the district are in peril, says Neelakantegowda, agriculture expert.

Raagi sowing


Taluk         Agri Land    Sowing


Bangarpet     23,730        20,853
Kolar         19,200        16,198
Malur        16,350        14,438
Mulbagal              25,750        21,240       
Srinivaspur           16,970        12,939
  
(Agri land and sowing in hectares)