<p>Chikkaballapur: While most parts of Karnataka are experiencing heavy rains, with rivers and reservoirs overflowing, the situation is starkly different in the plains of Chickballapur district, where severe rainfall deficit continues to trouble the region.</p><p>As of July 8, the district was expected to receive 15.3 mm of normal rainfall. During the same period last year, it had recorded 19.7 mm of rainfall. However, this year, the district has received only 4.4 mm, indicating a major shortfall.</p><p>The rain deficit in June has persisted since June. By the end of June, the expected rainfall was 64.1 mm. In June 2024, the district had received 122 mm of rainfall. In contrast, the district saw only 46.7 mm rain by the end of June this year. The rainfall shortage seen in June has continued into July as well.</p><p>Interestingly, during the onset of the monsoon in May, the district received good rainfall. Against a normal of 67 mm, the district received 142.6 mm by the end of May, compared to 95 mm in the same period last year. This initial rainfall gave farmers hope for a productive monsoon season and a good harvest.</p><p><strong>Sowing hit</strong></p><p>June witnessed only sporadic drizzles, a pattern that continues into July. This inconsistency in rainfall has severely affected sowing activities, especially for crops like tur and groundnut.</p><p>The Agriculture Department had set a target of sowing in 1.33 lakh hectares for this monsoon season in the district. However, so far, only 3,578 hectares have been sown — just 2.69% of the target.</p><p>For oilseeds, the target was 20,230 hectares, but only 991 hectares have been sown. For pulses, the target was 8,100 hectares, with sowing completed in just 258 hectares. For cereals, out of a target of 1.04 lakh hectares, only 2,329 hectares have been sown.</p><p>The window for sowing tur and groundnut remains open only until the end of July. Once this month passes, the ideal sowing period for these key crops will come to a close.</p><p>In Chikkaballapur district, the Agriculture Department had set a target of sowing tur in 4,200 hectares, but so far, only 258 hectares have been covered. For groundnut, the target was 20,000 hectares, yet just 991 hectares have been sown.</p><p>Due to the continued lack of rainfall, the sowing of these major crops has been severely hampered this season.</p><p>Only Bagepalli taluk has seen sowing completed in over 1,000 hectares, while in other taluks, even this minimum hasn’t been achieved. </p><p><strong>Worst-affected taluks</strong></p><p>Chintamani and Sidlaghatta taluks are among the worst-affected. In Sidlaghatta, sowing has been completed in only 152 hectares.</p><p>This widespread rainfall deficit is causing serious concern among the farming community in the district. </p><p>As per Agriculture Department officials, if the rains do not arrive soon, the situation will worsen further.</p>
<p>Chikkaballapur: While most parts of Karnataka are experiencing heavy rains, with rivers and reservoirs overflowing, the situation is starkly different in the plains of Chickballapur district, where severe rainfall deficit continues to trouble the region.</p><p>As of July 8, the district was expected to receive 15.3 mm of normal rainfall. During the same period last year, it had recorded 19.7 mm of rainfall. However, this year, the district has received only 4.4 mm, indicating a major shortfall.</p><p>The rain deficit in June has persisted since June. By the end of June, the expected rainfall was 64.1 mm. In June 2024, the district had received 122 mm of rainfall. In contrast, the district saw only 46.7 mm rain by the end of June this year. The rainfall shortage seen in June has continued into July as well.</p><p>Interestingly, during the onset of the monsoon in May, the district received good rainfall. Against a normal of 67 mm, the district received 142.6 mm by the end of May, compared to 95 mm in the same period last year. This initial rainfall gave farmers hope for a productive monsoon season and a good harvest.</p><p><strong>Sowing hit</strong></p><p>June witnessed only sporadic drizzles, a pattern that continues into July. This inconsistency in rainfall has severely affected sowing activities, especially for crops like tur and groundnut.</p><p>The Agriculture Department had set a target of sowing in 1.33 lakh hectares for this monsoon season in the district. However, so far, only 3,578 hectares have been sown — just 2.69% of the target.</p><p>For oilseeds, the target was 20,230 hectares, but only 991 hectares have been sown. For pulses, the target was 8,100 hectares, with sowing completed in just 258 hectares. For cereals, out of a target of 1.04 lakh hectares, only 2,329 hectares have been sown.</p><p>The window for sowing tur and groundnut remains open only until the end of July. Once this month passes, the ideal sowing period for these key crops will come to a close.</p><p>In Chikkaballapur district, the Agriculture Department had set a target of sowing tur in 4,200 hectares, but so far, only 258 hectares have been covered. For groundnut, the target was 20,000 hectares, yet just 991 hectares have been sown.</p><p>Due to the continued lack of rainfall, the sowing of these major crops has been severely hampered this season.</p><p>Only Bagepalli taluk has seen sowing completed in over 1,000 hectares, while in other taluks, even this minimum hasn’t been achieved. </p><p><strong>Worst-affected taluks</strong></p><p>Chintamani and Sidlaghatta taluks are among the worst-affected. In Sidlaghatta, sowing has been completed in only 152 hectares.</p><p>This widespread rainfall deficit is causing serious concern among the farming community in the district. </p><p>As per Agriculture Department officials, if the rains do not arrive soon, the situation will worsen further.</p>