KARNATAKA STATE 

A BRIEF NOTE ON AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION PROGRAMME 2011-12

&

PROGRESS DURING KHARIF

(23rd September 2011)

            Anticipating timely and well distributed rainfall during pre-monsoon, southwest & northeast monsoon period and also keeping in view the recent cropping pattern along with the record performance during previous year, the following production programme for the year 2011-12 was drawn up:

Targeted Kharif Area

Anticipating favourable/well distributed pre-monsoon and southwest monsoon, it was targeted to cover 74.65 lakh hectares under various agriculture crops during Kharif 2011 (Cereals 34.90 lakh hectares, Pulses 16.68 lakh hectares, Oilseeds 13.75 lakh hectares, Cotton 4.12 lakh hectares, Sugarcane 3.98 lakh hectares, VFC Tobacco 0.99 lakh hectares and Beedi Tobacco in 0.24 lakh hectares).

Pre-monsoon Rainfall

Pre-monsoon showers commenced in first week of April.  Light to moderate rainfall occurred during April & May. Actual rainfall during April and May was 74 mm and 76 mm as against a normal of 37 mm and 91mm respectively.  These showers helped for preparatory tillage and sowing of early kharif crops like Jowar, Blackgram, Greengram, Cowpea, Sesamum, Cotton and planting of Tobacco in parts of Mysore,  Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Chikkamagalur and Ramnagar districts.

Southwest monsoon

            Southwest monsoon commenced in Kerala on 29th May 2011 and  covered some parts of south Karnataka on 2^nd June and by 5^th June it covered all districts of Karnataka, except Bidar, which was covered on 15^th June.  Monsoon was weak in major parts of the NIK & SIK during second fortnight of June. Widespread rainfall occurred in Northern districts during first week of July.  Monsoon was active / vigorous in parts of Coastal and Malnad regions during 3^rd week of July; heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred in parts of Coastal and Malnad districts. Monsoon was active in some parts of South & North Interior regions during second fortnight of August. During September monsoon is weak in major parts of South /North Interior Karnataka. Week-wise performance of Southwest monsoon in four rainfall regions of the State is presented in the Statement-I.

Cumulative rainfall from 1^st June to 24^th September was 773 mm as against the normal of 769 mm and 48 taluks are under deficit rainfall category, mainly in Chitradurga,  Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Bellary, Bijapur and Hassan districts.

Impact of Dry spell

The dry spell during 2^nd fortnight of June (Standard week No. 25 & 26) hampered normal sowing of Jowar, Greengram and Blackgram in northern districts as a result of which decline is observed in area coverage of these crops compared to corresponding coverage of last Kharif.  Deficit rainfall during August in major parts of Southern districts, especially, Chitradurga, parts of Tumkur, Hassan, Mysore and Mandya hampered normal sowing of Groundnut and Ragi.  An area of about 4.28 lakh hectares is affected by severe moisture stress in parts of Chitradurga, Tumkur, Hassan, Davanagere, Dharwad, Chamarajanagar, Mysore and Gadag districts.

Contingent Cropping Plan

Contingent Crop Plans were prepared for delayed sowing of rain fed crops in the in the affected areas. sowing/transplanting of contingent crop plan/ delayed sowing was taken up in the affected districts/taluks with short duration variety seeds of crop like Bajra, Redgram, Cotton, Paddy, Maize, Ragi, Avare, Groundnut etc. in about 8 lakh hectares. Normally, about 13 lakh hectares area is covered during August, but the actual area coverage during August 2011 was about 21 lakh hectares.

Impact of Excess rainfall

Some parts of Shimoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Haveri and Bidar districts experienced excess and continuous rainfall during July and August resulting in submergence of crops in low lying areas. Totally, crops in  about 0.12 lakh hectares  have been affected due to excess and continous rainfall.

Area coverage

Latest reports indicate total area coverage of 68.62 lakh hectares accounting for 92% coverage against the targeted area of 74.65 lakh hectares.  It is anticipated that total area coverage would be around 69 lakh hectares by end of September.  Kharif area coverage of previous year was 73.96 lakh hectares and the normal coverage during Kharif is about 71.34 lakh hectares.  Crop-wise & District-wise area coverage details are furnished in Statement II & III, respectively.

Production Prospects

Advance estimates based on the progress in area coverage under various kharif crops, likely loss in yield on account of short dry spell, crop damage due to excess rainfall in some parts and anticipating normal seasonal condition in the remaining period of crop growth indicate production of 82.04 lakh tonnes Cereals and 6.90 lakh tonnes of Pulses against the target of 83.90 and 8.35 lakh tonnes respectively.  Oilseeds production is anticipated to be 6.60 lakh tonnes against the target of 10 lakh tonnes.  Production of cotton is likely to be 9.27 lakh bales against the target of 8.00 lakh bales on account of better area coverage.  The short fall in production of Pulses and oilseeds is on account of decline in area coverage.

Rabi/ Summer Programme 2011-12

            Rabi production programme depends upon residual soil moisture and Northeast monsoon rainfall during October – December.  The northern districts account for nearly 90% of the Rabi area.  It is programmed to cover 33.68 lakh hectares under various Rabi crops.   Efforts would be made to cover the unsown kharif area of about 3 lakh hectares under Rabi Jowar, Bengalgram and Sunflower.  Summer crops are programmed in about 7.02 lakh hectares.  Summer crop production programme purely depends upon availability of irrigation water in major and minor irrigation sources.  It is programmed to promote semi-dry crops (Groundnut, Sunflower) and pulses in Rice fallows during summer.

Fertilizer Supply

During Kharif 2011 the State requirement was 23.35 lakh metric tonnes of different grades of fertilizers. The details of requirement, Government of India allocation and supplies till 22.09.2011 is furnished below.        

                                                                                           (Qty in MTs)

* It could be seen from the above table that the actual supplies of different grades of fertilizers is less than GOI allocation. Hence, the farmers did face problems in getting the fertilizers in time.

Problems faced during Kharif 2011

•         Short supply of MOP and DAP during Kharif-2011.

•         Problem of Urea availability during August end and September-11 months.

•         Rake availability for imported urea from the port.

The Government of India had finalised the requirement for Rabi-2011-12 during the recent zonal conference held at New Delhi. The details are as follows.

Seed Distribution

Seed is an important agricultural input. It is reported that use of quality seeds contribute to an extent of 20-25 % of crop yields. Timely supply of required seeds to the farming community is crucial for increased yields and food production.  In the State, Public Sector agencies viz.,  Karnataka State Seeds Corporation, National Seeds Corporation,  Karnataka Co-operative Oilseed Growers Federation,  State Agricultural Universities and about 95 to 100  private seed supplying agencies are supplying seeds to the farming community.

General Seed distribution: Based on the area programme and the Seed Replacement Norms of the Govt. of India, the Department works out the crop wise, season wise and district wise requirement of certified: quality seeds and communicates to all the District Joint Director's of Agriculture and seed supplying agencies for timely supply of required seeds.  Meetings of the Seed producers and distributors are being convened every month at State and District level and seed distribution, stock position and related subjects are discussed in detail in the meetings.

During  2011-12, totally 11,57,390 qtls certified:quality seeds of various crops are required, comprising 8,14,760 qtls for Kharif 2011 and 3,42,630 qtls for Rabi/Summer 2011-12.  During Kharif 2011,  as against the requirement of 8,14,760 qtls, seed suppliers have supplied 7,78,629 qtls seeds.(Up to end of 31-08-2011).

For Rabi/Summer 2011-12, as against the requirement of 3,42,630 qtls   seed suppliers have programmed to distribute 4,55,621 qtls seeds.  Requirement and availability of seeds in brief is as follows:

Quantity in quintals

Seed distribution under subsidy: 

            Seeds are distributed under subsidy in the State, under Central Govt.'s Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojane,  Prime Ministers Rehabilitation Package (in six districts) and State Govt.’s  Small and Marginal Farmers Scheme. Under these schemes seeds are distributed to a maximum extent of 2.00 hectares per farmer or to his actual holding whichever is less. Seeds are distributed through Departments Raitha Samparka Kendras and selected sale points. As per the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, Tenders are called to source the required seeds and supplying agency, crop/variety, Quantity and selling rates will be finalised and guidelines are issued for distribution of seeds.

            During Kharif 2011, totally, 5,26,308 qtls seeds have been distributed, Rs. 8407.71 lakhs subsidy amount is utilized and 19,14,342 farmers have been benefited. 

            For Rabi/summer 2011-12, guidelines have been issued for distribution of seeds and seeds are being pre-positioned for distribution.

            Supply of seeds at subsidised rates under various schemes in the State has helped the farmers in getting quality seeds at a reasonable rates and consumption of seeds has increased considerably. 

STATEMENT - I

Region-wise Southwest monsoon Rainfall 2011

                                                                                                Unit: Rainfall in MM.

                EXCESS

                NORMAL

                DEFICIT

                SCANTY

NR- Normal Rainfall, AR - Actual Rainfall, % DEP. - Percentage departure from normal rainfall.      Source: KSNDMC