Farmers in the district are preparing the fields extensively for the present rabi season following copious rainfall in the district. The sowing season for rabi commenced on September 15.
With a conducive atmosphere for sowing prevailing, farmers are working in their fields with zeal hoping that the weather will remain in their favour till harvesting. Farmers are preparing the fields for crops such as jowar, sunflower, and safflower which are prominent crops in the rabi season.
Meanwhile, rush was also seen at raitha samparka kendras from where farmers procure seeds for sowing.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Department officials said the department has set a sowing target of 5.25 lakh hectares for the rabi season. The officials also added that adequate stock of seeds and fertilizers were available.
Predicting a demand of around 50,000 quintals of seeds for Bengal gram, the department has started the process of procuring 55,000 quintals of seeds.
The officials also said that the department needs at least 1.5 lakh tonnes of various fertilizers, and the same quantity has been stored.
“From September 15 to October 15, sowing of jowar, sunflower, and safflower would be taken up. Later, till November-end, Bengal gram would be sown. In the same months, sowing of maize would also be taken up,” the officials said.
Siddannagouda Mashibnal, a farmer from Aheri village in the taluk, said that he plans to sow jowar on his 15 acres of land in the rabi season.
“As of now, the situation is in favour of farmers. However, farmers need rain post sowing which will help in retaining moisture in the soil. Hopefully, we will get good rains in the coming days also,” he said.
