Unseasonal rains: Boon or bane?

Ragi, avare and horticulture crops affected but rain proves good for horse and Bengal gram

The unseasonal rains are already here to make life miserable for farmers of twin districts who are coping with delayed monsoon. The impact of the variations is most apparent here as most of the farmers are dependent on monsoon for agriculture in the absence of any perennial river and permanent irrigation system.

The unseasonal rains in Chikkaballapur from past two days is now threatening to destroy ragi crop sown in three phases in the district. The rains are lashing the districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur due to cyclone in Bay of Bengal.
The delayed monsoon had already reduced sowing area of ragi to 50 per cent in Chikkaballapur. The ragi which was sown in first phase has been harvested and is up for drying. The ragi sown in second phase is almost ready for harvesting. The ragi crop sown in the third phase is expected to give good yield as the current rains are conducive for their growth. However, the rains are threatening to destroy the crops sown in first and second phase.

The cloudy sky along with drizzling has dampened the atmosphere. If there is no change in weather for few more days the ragi crop is bound to be destroyed.
The reports from the meteorological department stated that the inclement weather was bound to stay for another three days.
The farming community is already worried as the rains is now threatening to snatch away their food and fodder for animals. Another issue that is bothering the farmers is the debt. Most of these farmers have taken debt for sowing. The failure of crop might wreak the lives of these hapless farmers.

Horticulture crops
The unseasonal rains are also casting their shadow on horticulture crops which are grown in the district. The cloudy and dampen weather is affecting grapes, tomato, potato, beans and others which are now at the risk of pest attack.  
The officials from the Agriculture department are giving directions to farmers to cope with the scenario.

Avare affected
One of the most sought after crop in the season ‘avare’ has also been affected due to the rains in the last month in Kolar district.
The flowers of the avare crops had turned yellow and were withering.The yield is expected to be low this season when compared to previous year.

Srinivaspur
Strangely, the mango trees in the Srinivaspur taluk, known for its production, are already flowering two weeks ahead of their normal season.
The flowering season in mango trees usually begins in the second week of December, however this year due to variations in the weather, flowering has already begun two weeks earlier.

The weather has also been found conducive for horse gram and Bengal gram which were sown late in the district.
The mango trees of Badami variety are blooming with flowers while other variety trees are also showing signs of flowering. The first mango crop is expected to arrive by Sankrati this year.

However, the farmers are yet to take precautionary measures to save the flowers from pests. The dense fog accompanied by rains in the early morning has led to the withering of flowers and is not conducive for spraying pesticides.
The prices of vegetables are bound to be northward as many horticulture crops have been affected and their arrival in market has also reduced.