Rain brings cheers to farmers

Gulbarga, Jul 25: Heavy rains lashing the Hyderabad-Karnataka region since last two days has brought cheers on the face of farmers who have started sowing operations.

Gulbarga and Bidar had experienced dry spell despite the south west monsoon entering the State in April.

The farming activities in the Gulbarga district, known as "Tur bowl" of the state, had almost come to standstill for a month due to failure of monsoon rains.

Agriculture department sources said that so far sowing had been taken up in only 1.54 lakh hectares as against the targeted 8.33 lakh hectares. It was hoped that the sowing operations would be completed for the current Kharif season by a month, if the rains continued.

Quoting meteorological department forecast, agriculture officials said that the HK region is likely to receive a good rain fall during the next 15 days and it would ensure the completion of sowing in the region.

Official sources said that sowing of red gram had been completed in more than 72 thousand hectares as against the targeted 3.22 lakh hectares.

"We hope red gram will be cultivated in more than four lakh hectares this year"sources added.

A Group of farmers at Jewargi told UNI that they restrained from sowing black gram and green gram due to scant rainfall.

The farmers have also expressed happiness over the heavy rains hoping that the rains would help the withering standing crop.

In Bidar district, officials sources said inspite of dry spell, sowing had been completed in 2.29 lakh hectares as against the target of 3.44 lakh hectares. With heavy rains during the last two days, sowing activities picked up momentum in the district. Meanwhile, Raichur district is continued to be under dry spell as the district witnessed only widespread showers. Several villages are under acute drinking water scarcity. Drinking water is supplied through tankers.

UNI