Karnataka - Madikeri   

Slow progress in paddy transplantation

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, JULY 22. Owing to poor rainfall in the kharif season, transplantation of paddy seedlings in the district has made little progress unlike the previous year, according to information received from the Department of Agriculture.

As against the target of 34,977 hectares, only 10,155 hectares has come under paddy cultivation so far.

The Joint Director of the Department of Agriculture, Devadas, told The Hindu here on Thursday that of the target of 7,500 hectares in Madikeri taluk, only 2,735 hectares had come under the crop.

In Virajpet taluk, paddy cultivation had been taken up in 6,745 hectares of the targeted 17,000 hectares, while in Somwarpet taluk, 675 hectares of the targeted 8,645 hectares had come under the crop.

An area of 1,832 hectares in the taluk with irrigation facility was also likely to come under paddy cultivation.

Mr. Devadas said the period from July third week to August was likely to get heavy rainfall. The monsoon would revive in a day or two, he added. Many farmers were cautious about floods in some areas. They would take up transplantation of paddy seedlings in the first week of August after the monsoon would have receded, he said.

Ragi, hybrid maize, pulses, and tobacco are grown only in Somwarpet taluk. Of the 500 hectares to come under ragi, 357 hectares have been sowed with crop.

Hybrid maize cultivation has exceeded the target of 1,500 hectares and an estimated 2,660 hectares has come under its cultivation. Tobacco also exceeds the target with 330 hectares as against the target of 225 hectares coming under the crop. Pulses have been sown in 670 hectares.

Crop insurance

Mr. Devadas urged the farmers to file applications for crop insurance under the National Crop Insurance Scheme by July 31. Forms could be obtained from the Raitha Samparka Kendras in the district. Small and marginal farmers could avail themselves of a concession of 10 per cent on the premium payment, he said.

For one acre of paddy under rain-fed agriculture, a farmer would have to deposit Rs. 69 as premium. For hybrid maize grown on one acre, a farmer would have to pay Rs. 89 as insurance premium, Mr. Devadas said. Farmers should carry certificates approved by the village accountants pertaining to sowing to enrol under the insurance scheme.

Mr. Devadas said that during 2003-04, 11,231 farmers (18,878 hectares) were covered by the crop insurance scheme. A sum of Rs. 92 lakhs was claimed as insurance during 2002-03, he added.

Rainfall

The average rainfall in the district till July 22 has been recorded at 938.3 mm., which is better than 236.1 mm recorded in 2004, 424.1 mm in 2003, 375 mm in 2002, and 624.5 mm in 2001, according to statistics available with the department.

In July, Madikeri received 1149.9 mm rainfall while it was 760.1 mm in Somwarpet taluk and 905 mm in Virajpet taluk.

The inflow into the Harangi Reservoir was measured at 1,416 cusecs on Thursday. The water level has increased to 2,856.11 feet as against the full storage of 2,859 feet. As much as 892 cusecs of water is being let into the canals from the reservoir.

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