Farmers in South Karnataka region, including Mysuru, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar belt, are staring at stunted crop growth and lower yield due to the prolonged dry spell and delay in the onset of the southwest monsoon.
The scenario is the same across most districts in the region where monsoon is yet to gain traction and is evident in depleting reservoir levels. Farmers have taken up crop cultivation in the foreshore area of the backwaters of the Krishnaraja Sagar as the water level in the reservoir is depleting and was around 78.12 feet.
Sowing has been impacted considerably and in Mysuru district sowing has been completed on 1,86,245 hectares as against the target of 3,97,879 hectares as on July 1. This accounts for 47% of the actual target but this is expected to improve in case the monsoon revives and gains traction.
