DHARWAD: Farmers in the region, who lost kharif crop due to failure of monsoon, are now staring at another drought.
Hoping to make up for the loss to some extent and expecting a good rabi crop, they had started sowing early, and 75 % of the targeted area has been sown, but there is likelihood of a low yield of Bengal gram and mangoes as there has not been considerable dip in temperature during the months of October and November.
These two crops flourish if the weather is chilly, but so far, the weather has remained warm. Farmers are still hoping that things will change during December, and there will be a considerable dip in mercury.
The farmers, who have gone for rabi sowing, faced hurdles as there was no rain soon after sowing. However, they managed to overcome the water problem by drawing water from borewells and streams. “Now that there is no cold, the crops are not growing in a healthy manner,” said Vithal Dindalkopp, a farmer from Yadwad village.
The difference between kharif cultivation and rabi cultivation is that for kharif crops rain is required right from the time of sowing to harvesting, and for rabi it is enough if it rains during sowing. But, till the harvesting, the weather should remain cold.
However, the weather during October and November has by and large remained warm, and only during morning for a couple of hours, there is a dip in temperature. As per the statistics provided by the agriculture department, out of 2.5 lakh hectares of targeted sowing area, sowing has been done in 1.5 lakh hectares (75%), as there was no rain at the time of sowing.
Bengal gram is a major rabi crop in Dharwad district, and the farmers have sown Bengal gram in 1,14,155 hectares exceeding the target of 1,01,311 hectares. Wheat has been sown in 9,254 hectares as against the target of 16,088 hectares. Jowar and other crops are being grown in the remaining land.
“Bengal gram crop is withering due to lack of humidity and faces the danger of catching pest. Since we suffered loss during the kharif season and are not willing to leave the fields empty, we went in for early sowing of rabi crops. Now, we don’t know what to do,” lamented Mahaveer Tammannavar of Garag village. Joint director of agriculture Kiran Kumar is hoping that December will be cooler and bengal gram crop survives.
Mango growers worried about yieldThe mango growers are also worried with the weather remaining warm. If the weather is cool in November and December, only then there will be flowering. Mango is being cultivated on 1,5000 hectares in Dharwad district, and the growers are also worried over the prospect of a decline in yield.
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