Showers please farmers in Chamarajanagar district

Hit by crop failure last year, farmers hopeful of a harvest now

The concern of the farmers over the delay in monsoon showers in the district has turned into a relief, following moderate showers during the past few days.

The farmers are also happy with the post-monsoon showers between March and May in Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet taluks. So, the farmers have already completed preliminary sowing in parts of the district.

Compared to the general weather pattern in the State, the district is unique. During pre-monsoon season, Gundlupet taluk and parts of Chamarajanagar receive good showers. Farmers in the region take up sowing during this season.

However, monsoon showers in the month of June is rare, causing problems to farmers.

In 2014, despite a healthy spell of pre-monsoon showers, there were no rains in June and July. As a result, crops in a combined area of 26,525 hectares had dried up. Due to some technical issues, the district was not included in the list of drought-hit districts, robbing the farmers of compensation.

Similar conditions were observed during the first two weeks of June. However, the situation has changed in the past few days.

Sowing

For the monsoon, the Agriculture department has a target of sowing in 1,57,400 hectares of land. Sowing is complete in 62,050 hectares, which is 39.42 per cent.Among the taluks, sowing is complete in 41,585 hectares in Gundlupet, 10,518 hectares in Chamarajanagar, 5,428 hectares in Kollegal and 4,519 hectares in Yalandur taluk.

Rainfall

The district has recorded 353.6 mm rainfall between January and June 20, against an expected average of 270 mm. However, rainfall has not been uniform in the district, which has affected the process.

According to Basappa, a farmer from Teranakaambi village in Chamarajanagar taluk, farmers had some apprehensions regarding rainfall in the first fortnight of June. “We had feared that the situation we had faced last year will be repeated. Since the region is receiving good showers now, we are hopeful of harvesting a crop this year,” he said.