BENGALURU: This monsoon, Karnataka is facing a twin challenge of nearly 20 districts witnessing a severe rain deficit and fertiliser shortage looming ahead of the peak sowing season.
As per the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) data, the state has recorded a rainfall of 105 mm as against the normal of 191 mm, a whopping 45% deficit. Malnad is facing the highest rain deficit of 62%, followed by coastal Karnataka at 54% and north-interior Karnataka at 30%. However, in south-interior Karnataka, there is a 6% departure from normal. While 18 districts come under deficit and large deficit, ten come under normal category, though many taluks and hoblis within these districts are facing a rain-deficit.
As far as fertiliser stock is concerned, as of June-end, the state has sold 11.53 lakh metric tonne of fertiliser and has 10.93 lakh MT in stock. But there could be a shortage of DAP (diammonium phosphate) as the available stock of 84,000 MT will not be sufficient to meet a requirement of 4 lakh MT.
A senior Agriculture Department official told The New Indian Express that there is a shortage of DAP as of now and it will worsen over the next few days. “We have been asking farmers, who visit Raitha Samparka Kendras, to use alternatives to DAP. We have also been distributing handbills and advertisements to create awareness. But farmers insist on DAP,” he said.
Rain expected in July: Expert
GS Srinivasa Reddy, former director, KSNDMC, said this time, sowing has been less because of the dry spell which has reduced the demand for fertilisers. “With widespread rain expected in July, sowing activity will pick up and that could lead to a sharp rise in demand for fertilisers. That in turn could lead to a supply crunch. The pressure on fertiliser supply will further increase after sowing is completed,’’ he said. The shortage is because of the West Asia crisis which has restricted the supply of raw materials to fertiliser manufacturers, impacting supplies from the central government, he added.
The India Meteorological Department on Monday issued yellow to orange alerts to some parts of the state as heavy rain is expected over the next one week. Though rain is good, it could pose problems for farmers as heavy showers could wash away freshly sown seeds and fertilisers, forcing farmers to go for resowing and re-fertilising their land, he cautioned.