Sowing season takes hit as 126 taluks in State face severe drought

In the previous year, the State faced drought after the sowing was completed but this year even during sowing season it is facing acute shortage of rains. As many as 126 taluks in the State are facing drought situation. In 12 taluks, scanty rains have resulted in less than 50 per cent sowing, reports Kannada Prabha. The State has gone through drought for three consecutive years and this year yet again there are indications of severe drought ahead. Only the first month of monsoon showed promise but in July, the second month, all expectations were proved wrong. The figures on July 31 shows 126 villages and 447 hoblis are facing rain shortage. In the State, only five districts have received good monsoon and the rest 25 districts are facing shortage.

Surprisingly, the hot regions have received good rains. Districts that face hot sun like Bidar, Kalaburagi and Koppal have received good rains. Udupi and North Kannada districts have received good rains. In five districts, more than 50 per cent rain deficit is recorded. During monsoon, the State’s expected sowing is in 73 lakh hectares. Currently, sowing has been reported in only 42.03 hectares. GS Srinivasa Reddy, Director, State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, has said that the rains that were good in June have receded in July, resulting in failure in sowing activities in major part of the State.

If the rains fail this week, the farmers will be forced to destroy the crops they planted. In Shiggavi  a farmer Nijaguni Shivarudrappa destroyed paddy and maize plants in his four-and-half acres as there was no rains since 15 days. Currently, in the 42 lakh hectares, 24.99 lakh hectares of Tuvar Dal, Green Gram and Blackgram have been sown. Only 2.75 lakh hectares out of the designated 14.22 lakh hectares paddy has been sown. Jowar is sown in 7.83 lakh hectares and Ragi in only 0.72 hectares, reports Kannada Prabha. 

• 126 taluks facing drought
• karnataka drought
• karnataka