Madikeri: Poor rainfall in Kodagu district has started worrying farmers. Rain that ravaged Kodagu district in the last week of May had raised hopes of a good monsoon among farmers.

According to sources, a total of 35,000 hectares is targeted to be brought under paddy cultivation in the three taluks of the district.

Paddy cultivation in Kodagu is totally dependent on rainfall. But, owing to poor rain, sowing has been completed only on 100 hectares in Kodagu. Seedlings cannot be transplanted if it does not rain in the next few days, according to sources in the Department of Agriculture.

As far as ragi is concerned, of the targeted 500 hectares, transplantation of seedlings has been done on 380 hectares. Of the 2,000 hectares targeted under maize, 1,800 hectares has been covered. Lack of rainfall had not affected dry crops.

Cultivation of pulses

Pulses such as toor, horse gram, black gram, green gram and cowpea are cultivated only in Somwarpet taluk and so are oilseeds such as groundnut, sesame, sunflower, castor, niger, mustard and soyabeen.

Ten acres each of groundnut and sesame have so far been covered. Among the commercial crops, tobacco and sugarcane were cultivated in 250 acres each in Somwarpet taluk, sources said. Paddy is the dominant crop in Madikeri and Virajpet taluk.

In all, 37,750 hectares is targeted to be covered under various agricultural crops, including 35,000 hectares of paddy. Except an extent of 2,380 hectares that come under irrigated area in Somwarpet taluk, rest are rain-fed.

The coverage targets of 7,500 hectares in Madikeri taluk and 17,000 hectares in Virajpet taluk are entirely for paddy. In Somwarpet taluk, paddy is cultivated in 13,350 hectares. Of this, 10,870 hectares come under rain-fed and 2,380 hectares under irrigated category. Seeds are being supplied through raitha samparka kendras.

The district has received less than normal rainfall this year. Normal rainfall during June is 486 mm. It was 687.5 mm in 2004 and 439.58 in 2005. However, the average rainfall in June this year has been a poor 168.03 mm.

The heavy rain in May that took everyone by surprise has been the only solace for the district this year.

The district had received 433.63 mm during May this year while there was little in May in the past. The average rainfall during May is 146.7 mm. In Madikeri taluk, rainfall recorded in May was 539.7 mm. Areas of heavy rainfall such as Talacauvery and Bhagamandala accounted for this higher average.

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