JOIN USThe recent spell of pre-monsoon showers has prompted the farmers to start agricultural activities. The target is to sow on 1.52 lakh hectares of land and sowing has been completed on 7,900 hectare land.
The district received an average of 146 mm rainfall till May 19 this year as against the average normal rain of 138.9 mm.
The rains have triggered agricultural activities in Lakhya, Kasaba, Shivani and Kadur in Chikkamagaluru district. The farmers have sown sesame, yard long beans, ground nut and green gram. A few farmers have started tilling the land to take up farm activities.
Seeds stocked
Agriculture officials told DH that the seeds have been stocked in Raitha Samparka Kendras. About 2,000 quintal seeds have been distributed so far.
“All measures have been taken to ensure that there is no shortage of seeds. If the region continues to receive rainfall, then sowing of jowar, maize and sunflower will be taken up by the end of May-June. Farmers have sown onion in Shivani, Ajjampura, Birur and surrounding areas,” they said.
The pre-monsoon showers have filled the water bodies and have brought much relief to the farmers who were reeling under drought situation for the last three years.
The farmers have started removing the weeds in the coconut, rubber, coffee, and pepper plantations while paddy growers are getting ready to sow in NR Pura and Mudigere taluks.
S V Sadashiva, a farmer from Shivani, said, “We have already received good rainfall in the last two months. I
have sown groundnut. I am hoping for a good monsoon this year. If the region gets good rainfall, then onion will also be sown. If the water bodies fill, then we can save our arecanut and coconut trees.”