Farmers begin Rabi sowing in Yadgir, 23.12% of the targeted area covered

Farmers in Yadgir district have begun sowing crops for the Rabi season, and already sowing has been completed in 11,538 hectares (23.12%) of the total area in Yadgir district till the end of October.

The targeted area for the Rabi season in Yadgir district is 49,909 hectares.

The district had experienced torrential rainfall in August and September, impacting the majority of green gram and cotton farmers. Standing crops in 1.42 lakh hectares of the total 4.18 lakh hectares were damaged. After the joint survey, the authorities have submitted report to the government seeking compensation grants.

While farmers who were less affected prepared lands and began sowing, those who suffered heavy losses started sowing late.

“Hindrance in preparing land is one among the reasons for late sowing. In some instances, farmers find financial difficulties in purchasing sowing seeds. This has also turned out to be harmful for farmers and late sowing. The state government should immediately release the compensation for loss of their crops, enabling them to use money for sowing and related activities”, Mallikarjun Satyampet, State vice-president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, said.

Of the targeted areas of 49,909 hectares for the Rabi season, jowar is 22,842 hectares, followed by bajra -618 hectares, Bengal gram -2,764 hectares, and groundnut - 20,500 hectares.

The talukwise target and the area’s coverage are as follows: Shahapur- 456 hectares with 5.50% against the targeted 8,293 hectares, Wadagera- 361 hectares with 5.44% (6,641 hectares), Shorapur (Surpur)- 431 hectares with 4.92% (8,754 hectares), Hunsagi- 445 hectares with 6.76% (6,580 hectares), Yadgir- 5,404 hectares with 47.10% (11,473 hectares), and Gurmitkal- 4,441 hectares with 54.37% against the targeted 8,167 hectares.

The highest sowing of 4,441 hectares (54.37%) has been reported in Gurmitkal, while the lowest 431 hectares (4.92%) has been reported in Surpur taluk.

The majority of the rainfed area farmers, particularly in the Wadagera, Yadgir and Gurmitkal taluks, start early sowing and use sprinkler or pump sets to water the crops and the farmers in Surpur, Shahapur and Hunsagi taluks would start late sowing as majority of the lands in these taluks are irrigated.

“Normally, farmers in Shorapur and Shahapur start sowing late, and it will continue till the last week of December. It is expected that it will reach the targeted area by the period,” Retendranath Sugur, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department, told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, the district received light showers in a few parts of the district at the end of last week.