Bidar taluk faced 63% rainfall deficit, delaying kharif sowing and leaving prepared farmland largely uncultivated despite inputs purchased.
Bidar
Persistent rainfall deficiency has severely impacted kharif sowing operations in Bidar taluk, with only 39% of the targeted cultivation area achieved so far despite the monsoon having set in over a month ago. Farmers across the region are facing uncertainty as they wait for adequate rainfall to begin full-scale agricultural activities.
According to data from the agriculture department, Bidar taluk received only 56.4 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 2, against the normal average of 151 mm, marking a deficit of about 63%. This shortfall has significantly delayed sowing activities, leaving large tracts of farmland unutilized even after field preparation and input purchases.
Among different hoblis, Kamthana recorded the lowest rainfall, receiving just 26% of its normal levels, resulting in a 74% deficit. Janawada, although relatively better, still received only 50% of its expected seasonal rainfall, highlighting the widespread nature of the shortfall across the taluk.
Agriculture officials reported that sowing of pulse crops has been particularly affected. Normally, green gram and black gram are cultivated across 4,000 to 5,000 hectares each, but this season only around 1,000 hectares have been sown for each crop. In contrast, soybean cultivation has covered about 15,000 hectares, while cotton has been sown in nearly 700 hectares.
Overall, sowing progress in the taluk remains limited to 39% of the intended area. Officials have advised farmers to focus on drought-tolerant crops such as soybean and pigeon pea and to adopt wider spacing techniques if sowing continues under uncertain rainfall conditions.
The weather department has predicted rainfall after July 7, offering some hope to farmers. Authorities have also cautioned that if conditions do not improve by July 15, farmers may need to consider alternative crops like millets. Farmers like Omkar Chitta from Astur village expressed concern over the delay, stating that the agricultural community is anxiously waiting for sustained rains to resume sowing activities
