Govt upbeat on food grain output this year

Farming activity has picked up pace across the state thanks to copious rainfall, with the state government estimating food grain production to touch 135 lakh tonnes this year, the same as last year.

The government has a target of achieving 74.69 lakh hectares of Kharif crop sowing this year. As on date, sowing has been done on a total of 42.14 lakh hectares, which is an improvement from 40.41 lakh hectares this time last year.

“Karnataka’s contribution to national food production stands at 5%. In the best years, food grain production exceeds 130 lakh tonnes. It goes below 100 lakh tonnes in the worst years. Given the rainfall we have had so far, we expect a successful year and that will make it two consecutive successful years,” Agriculture Commissioner G Sathish said.

However, authorities remain guarded as sowing operations are yet to start in Raichur, Koppal and Chitradurga. “Achieving our sowing target depends on the rainfall these pockets get,” Sathish said.

Karnataka has received 14% more rainfall during the South West monsoon since June and reservoir levels are the highest in the last 15 years. Parts of north Karnataka, however, have received deficit rainfall.

“The dams are filling up, which is good, but we remain concerned because of deficit rainfall in 6-7 districts,” agriculture secretary M Maheshwar Rao said. This also explains why the government has not revised its food production target.

Authorities say maize will continue to be the major food crop. “Maize is grown on 25 lakh hectares, which is one-fourth of our total area,” Sathish pointed out.

According to agrometeorologist M B Rajegowda, regions that have received deficit rainfall have a sowing window up to August 15.

“This year, we will get more than normal precipitation, which obviously means the crop area will remain normal, if not more,” he said.

“Based on our analysis of rainfall data since 1901, we have concluded that Karnataka will be in the positive bracket for the next six to seven years.”