Pre-monsoon rain cheers ryots
MYSORE: Farmers in the region, especially those involved in rain-fed cultivation and who lost crops last year due to drought, are in upbeat this time with pre-monsoon rain raising their hopes. The region, particularly Mysore district, has received good pre-monsoon rain, prompting farmers to take up the sowing of kharif crops.
Mysore usually gets pre-monsoon rain in good quantity during April-end and early May. But the delay in getting this rain has left the farmers with bad memories of last year's drought. However, the good spell of rain in the last 3-4 days, particularly on Friday night, has got them set for the sowing season, which has already begun in some parts of the district.
According to the agriculture department, all seven taluks of Mysore district and four taluks of Chamarajanagar received good rain on Thursday and Friday.
Krishnaiah, joint director of agriculture, said: "Barring T Narasipura, rest of the taluks of the district received good rain on Friday. This is sufficient for the farming lot to take up cultivation of kharif crops like tur, green gram, black gram, cow pea, ragi and horse gram." The department is positive on meeting the target in sowing kharif crops on 4.2 lakh hectare.
Sources said farmers have already sowed kharif crops on 1.54 lakh hectare, and sowing in the remaining area of about 3 lakh hectare will be completed in the next couple of days.
Krishnaiah said that the meteorological department has predicted normal rainfall this season, much to the delight of farmers. However, sources admit that sowing in wet lands and irrigated areas will start only when monsoon sets in and dams receive good quantity of water.
"It may take another month-and-a-half for farmers in irrigated areas to take up cultivation of crops like paddy," a source in the irrigation department said, pointing out at dried dams and tanks in the region.
"If monsoon starts now or in the next 1-2 days, it takes a fortnight for dams to receive inflow. Initially, the tanks and other small water holes in the catchment area get filled, and excess water will then start flowing towards dams," the source added.
Water supply
The supply of drinking water depends on the inflow into dams and reservoirs. The authorities of Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and water supply board are a relieved lot as they are hopeful that the continuous rain in the last three days ill recharge the groundwater table, easing tension with regard to tube wells, which supply water to many areas in the city.
The authorities concerned are also making efforts to ease the crisis.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Pre-monsoon-rain-cheers-ryots/articleshow/20389611.cms?
Mysore usually gets pre-monsoon rain in good quantity during April-end and early May. But the delay in getting this rain has left the farmers with bad memories of last year's drought. However, the good spell of rain in the last 3-4 days, particularly on Friday night, has got them set for the sowing season, which has already begun in some parts of the district.
According to the agriculture department, all seven taluks of Mysore district and four taluks of Chamarajanagar received good rain on Thursday and Friday.
Krishnaiah, joint director of agriculture, said: "Barring T Narasipura, rest of the taluks of the district received good rain on Friday. This is sufficient for the farming lot to take up cultivation of kharif crops like tur, green gram, black gram, cow pea, ragi and horse gram." The department is positive on meeting the target in sowing kharif crops on 4.2 lakh hectare.
Sources said farmers have already sowed kharif crops on 1.54 lakh hectare, and sowing in the remaining area of about 3 lakh hectare will be completed in the next couple of days.
Krishnaiah said that the meteorological department has predicted normal rainfall this season, much to the delight of farmers. However, sources admit that sowing in wet lands and irrigated areas will start only when monsoon sets in and dams receive good quantity of water.
"It may take another month-and-a-half for farmers in irrigated areas to take up cultivation of crops like paddy," a source in the irrigation department said, pointing out at dried dams and tanks in the region.
"If monsoon starts now or in the next 1-2 days, it takes a fortnight for dams to receive inflow. Initially, the tanks and other small water holes in the catchment area get filled, and excess water will then start flowing towards dams," the source added.
Water supply
The supply of drinking water depends on the inflow into dams and reservoirs. The authorities of Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and water supply board are a relieved lot as they are hopeful that the continuous rain in the last three days ill recharge the groundwater table, easing tension with regard to tube wells, which supply water to many areas in the city.
The authorities concerned are also making efforts to ease the crisis.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Pre-monsoon-rain-cheers-ryots/articleshow/20389611.cms?