The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Mysore farmers elated by good rainfall

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Mysore farmers elated by good rainfall

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, JUNE 5. The early onset of the monsoon preceded by a cyclone-induced heavy spell of rain has given a boost to farming in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, ushering in hopes of a good harvest this season.

Though the authorities concerned are yet to release water from the reservoirs, farmers have no reason to complain given the intensity of the rain in the region.

This is in stark contrast with the agricultural scenario during the past three years when the reservoirs went empty, the water bodies dried up, and an acute scarcity of fodder tormented farmers.

The worst affected were landless labourers, who were forced to migrate to cities and towns in search of jobs as construction workers. But the early onset of the monsoon has sent them back to the fields and the distress migration has been reversed, according to officials in the Agricultural Department.

The Mysore-Chamarajanagar belt has received more than the normal cumulative rainfall from January to April. According to the Department of Agriculture, Mysore has received 107.03 mm rainfall as against the normal cumulative rainfall of 87.4 mm during the four-month period. This is almost twice the quantum of rainfall received during the corresponding period the previous year when the region received only 58.4 mm rainfall.

For farmers, the rain has come as a welcome relief after three years of dry spell. They are hopeful that a bumper harvest will help them clear all their debts.

In view of the favourable conditions, the authorities expect 3.65 lakh hectares of land to come under cultivation this year.

While cereals are likely to be grown in 1.87 lakh hectares, 56,191 hectares of land will be used to grow pulses. Oilseeds and commercial crops will together cover 1.25 lakh hectares.

While the target seems high, the authorities are hopeful that at least 80 per cent of it will be met by the second week of June.

Over 2.65 lakh hectares of dry land will be brought under cultivation this year with emphasis on jowar, red gram, black gram, groundnut, sunflower, and castor.

But cotton cultivation, for which the region is renowned, is all set to receive priority.

Commercial crops are likely to be grown in 37,169 hectares of dry land this year.

A good spell of rainfall in September will help the farmers reap a bumper harvest and the expectations are high as the Department of Meteorology has predicted a good monsoon this year.

At the institutional level, the authorities have promoted farm income insurance for the summer crop and the areas covered under the scheme included Antharsanthe, H.D. Kote, and Saragar in H.D. Kote taluk; Hebbal, Hosagrahara, K.R. Nagar, and Mirle in K.R. Nagar taluk; Bilgere, Chikkainnachatra, Hullahalli, and Nanjangud in Nanjangud taluk; and Bannur, Mugur, Sosale, T. Narsipura, and Talkad in T. Narasipur taluk.

The scheme covers paddy and wheat and the objective is to provide financial support to farmers in the event of loss in income due to natural adversities or calamities or market price fluctuations; to enhance food and livelihood security of the farming community; and to help stabilise farm incomes.

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