Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda said cloud-seeding would be undertaken in August to overcome the deficiency of rain in the state.

He was speaking to reporters after a programme at Madadakere in Hosadurga taluk. Rain-deficient districts would get priority while undertaking cloud-seeding, the minister said. The tender process for cloud-seeding would be completed by this month-end, Byregowda said.

The department was giving impetus to increase the area under the cultivation of millets, given the increasing demand for them. Each farmer growing millets will get an honorarium of Rs 2,500 per hectare this year, the minister announced.