Date:26/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/26/stories/2006072602642300.htm

Back Uneven rains hit kharif crops

Our Bureau

The district officials have been asked to submit detailed reports about the cropdamages to work out contingency plans.

Bangalore , July 25

Uneven distribution of rainfall has affected 45 per cent of the standing crops on 3.91 lakh hectares which have been sown with pulses and some oilseeds in eight districts in Karnataka.

With good monsoon hopes, the farmers had gone ahead with sowing of green gram, black gram, soyabean, sesame, jowar, bajra and maize in the rain dependent areas. However, scarce rains have put the crops under moisture stress causing concern about their prospects.

During the kharif season, 44.1 lakh hectares have been sown so far against the target of 74.02 lakh hectares this year.

According to the State Minister for Agriculture, Mr Bandeppa Kashempur, 40-45 per cent of the standing crops have been damaged following inadequate rains in Bidar, Chamrajanagar, Bellary, Koppal, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Bagalpur and Raichur districts.

Mr Kashempur, who briefed presspersons after a high-level meeting attended by the Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, and senior officials of the Agricultural, Cooperation and Revenue Departments here on Tuesday, said that if rains continued to play truant more crop area could come under stress.

The district officials have been asked to submit a detailed report about the crop damages to work out contingency plans, Mr Kashempur said.

Meanwhile, sowing and transplanting activities of major crops such as paddy, pulses and oilseeds continued in irrigated and rainfed areas of the State.