Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H K Patil has said that the State is facing a drought threat. Though it rained in July and August, it was not enough for agricultural needs, he said.
Recent rains have improved the groundwater situation in the State, he pointed out. The State received good rains in May, but June was totally dry, leaving farmers high and dry, Patil said in an interaction with reporters at his office in the State Secretariat.
Since all major reservoirs are full, major irrigation department is drawing up a detail plan to fill tanks and lakes in its command area to take care of drinking and irrigation needs.
Rainfall data According to Karnataka Drought Monitoring Cell, of the 176 taluks in the State, as on August 5, cumulative rainfall (June 1 to August 5) has been excess in 23 taluks, normal in 84 taluks, deficit in 68 taluks and scanty in one. Last year for the same period, rainfall was excess in 65 taluks, normal in 92 taluks, and deficit in 19 taluks and scanty in nil taluks.
As per the Karnataka agriculture department statistics, an area of 43.4 lakh hectares was sown by July 28 as against the normal of 49.47 lakh hectares. It has declined by 12.27 per cent to the normal sown area. District wise sowing status is that it was above normal in six districts, normal in 20 districts and below normal in four districts.
Crop area As for the crop-wise sowing, crops under cereals as on July 28 is less than the last year coverage by 7.32 lakh hectares and the normal coverage by 4.88 lakh hectares. During the current year, the coverage by total pulses is less than the last year coverage by 3.88 lakh hectares and the normal coverage by 2.08 lakh hectares.
The coverage of oilseeds during the current Kharif season is less than the last year coverage by 2.67 lakh hectares and the normal coverage by 3.76 lakh hectares. The coverage by cash crops during the current season is more than the last year coverage by 1.22 lakh hectares and the normal coverage by 4.65 lakh hectares.