JOIN USRyots relieved as rains hit Ch'nagar
Farmers are a relieved lot in Chamarajanagar as rains have been satisfactory in the last week of April and looks positive over the first few days in May. They were badly expecting rains for the past six months.
At a time when people were facing scarcity of even drinking water, the summer showers have encouraged farmers to take up sowing.
Average rainfall expected during April is 58 mm, but the district received 79.18 mm. The average rain expected in May is 134 mm, rainfall recorded in the district over the first three days of the month is 16.17 mm. Even the agriculture department is ready with stocks of seeds and fertilisers.
The total area under cultivation in the district is 1.71 hectare. Cereals are grown in 87,147 hectare, while pulses in 21,823 hectare and oil seeds in 36,428 hectare. Commercial crops are grown on 12,205 hectare. The agriculture department has projected sowing in 1,57,598 hectare for the monsoon. However, sowing has already been done in 20 per cent of the projected land (31,488 hectare). Sowing activity has been brisk in Gundlupet taluk.
According to estimates the district needs 53,379 quintals of seeds, however, 16,821 quintals have been earmarked for the monsoon crops. Out of the total need of 41,700 tonnes of chemical fertilisers, there is a stock of 5,471 tonnes.
Joint director for agriculture M Chandrasekhar said there was problem with availability of seeds and fertiliser and the government would be urged to release both depending on the demand. The seed would be distributed through Raitha Samparka Kendras, he added.