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The region recorded an average rainfall deficit of nearly 40% during kharif, leaving fields too dry for large-scale sowing. The agriculture department has set a target of 2,33,733 hectares for rabi cultivation this season.
Officials said rabi crops generally require less rainfall than kharif crops and that a couple of good showers could provide adequate soil moisture and encourage sowing. Agriculture assistant director Rajshekar Anagoudar said the India Meteorological Department has warned that El Niño conditions could reduce post-monsoon rainfall, urging farmers to proceed cautiously. Farmer Eshwar Chandargi said cultivators traditionally expect rainfall after Navaratri and are waiting for showers before beginning field operations. “We suffered heavy losses during the kharif season because of the weak monsoon and hope the rabi crop will help us recover some of those losses,” he added.
Dharwad: With fields parched and soil moisture levels critically low, farmers across Dharwad district and the wider Kittur Karnataka region are postponing rabi sowing, hoping for post-monsoon showers after suffering heavy losses during the kharif season. Farmers fear that cultivating under the current conditions could lead to poor seed germination and further losses. For now, sowing has begun only in irrigated areas and on farms with access to borewell water.