Post-monsoon rains bring cheers among ryots

Incessant rains experienced in the district has encouraged  the farmers to take up agricultural activities at a brisk pace. Kollegal, Gundlupet and Chamarajanagar taluk have received copious rainfall.

The crop that was sown during the pre-monsoon season had gone dry and with the continuous downpour, the farmers are preparing their lands to sow groundnuts, cow pea, horsegram, sunflower, maize and others.

The lands used for cultivation purpose is 1,58,962 hectare. About 69,156 hectare were sown during pre-monsoon period, but as the rains failed from the second week of May, the crops withered incurring a loss of Rs 94.45 crore.

The continuous showers now has brought cheers among the farmers and are hoping that all the water sources like lakes and ponds would be filled this season.

The post-monsoon season begins in the district from the month of October and the department of agriculture has plans of sowing in around 56,000 hectare.

Out of this, horsegram will be sown in 38,000 hectare and around 30 per cent of sowing activities have been completed, say officials belonging to department of agriculture.

Farmers of Gundlupet have sown groundnuts. With agri department having a stock of 1,000 quintal and around 50 per cent has been distributed to farmers.

There is also a stock of 340 quintal of sunflower seeds, and hence there is no shortage of sowing seeds, say officials.

While the usual rainfall is said to be 383 mm from January to August, the district has received 220.10 mm of rains. But as there was delay in rains, it caused difficulty for the farmers and the livestock.

Majority of farmers have burnt their fingers after taking up sowing activities during pre-monsoon and now hope they can at least manage the fodder crisis.

Now, the farmers are queuing up in front of fertiliser shops. Joint director of agriculture M Chandrashekar said that preventive measures have been taken to see that there is no shortage of fertilisers this season.