Date:20/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/20/stories/2006052001750400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kharif sowing gets under way in State

Special Correspondent

Rainfall in April below normal in State

Rainfall in many areas in State in the past 15 days

Bagalkot, Bijapur, Haveri and Bidar districts remain dry

BANGALORE: Preparation of land and sowing of kharif crops have begun with the imminent onset of the south-west monsoon.

Sowing of cotton, jowar, sesame, pulses and maize is in progress in Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Chikmagalur districts. Planting of tobacco is in progress in Hunsur, Periyapatna and Krishnarajanagar taluks in Mysore district, according to the Directorate of Agriculture here.

Farmers had sown crops on 0.48 lakh hectares by May 8 as against the target of 74 lakh hectares for the season. The pre-monsoon rainfall in April was below normal in the State, with actual rainfall being 15 mm as against the normal of 37 mm.

This hampered the sowing of cotton and jowar in Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts.

During the past 15 days, many parts of the districts in south-interior Karnataka, except Kolar, experienced moderate rainfall. Some parts of the districts in north-interior Karnataka also received light rainfall.

However, many areas in Bagalkot, Bijapur, Haveri and Bidar districts are yet to get rainfall.