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BANGALORE, Aug 25

THE delayed and deficient monsoon is expected to impact the output of horticultural crops, especially that of vegetables such as potato, onion, chillies and tomatoes in Karnataka.

According to Mr G.K. Vasanth Kumar, Director, Karnataka Horticulture Department, potato output is estimated to be lower by about 30 per cent, while the production of onion and chillies are likely to drop by 15-20 per cent each. However, the perennial crops like mango would be unaffected, he said.

Karnataka is one of the major potato-growing States and sowing in the main growing areas of Hassan, Chikmagalur and Hubli Dharwad have been affected. Potato is grown in some 25,000 hectare of the State, of which sowing has taken place in nearly 23,000 hectare.

Sowing of onion is still in progress in districts of Bangalore, Kolar, Tumkur, Davangere, Haveri and Bijapur even as the inadequate rains in major onion growing areas has affected the coverage, which could result in a drop in output to the extent of 15-20 per cent. Onion is grown in about 60,000 hectare in the State.

The deficient and inadequate rains has also delayed the transplantation of chillies in Dharwar, Haveri, Tumkur,Davangere, Gadag, Belgaum, Bellary and Kolar districts. This is expected to result in a loss of nearly 15-20 per cent of the output. Chillies are grown in about 1.85 lakh hectare, of which transplantation has been completed in about 1.2 lakh hectare.

Meanwhile, in a bid to make horticulture more competitive in the wake of changing global trade, the Karnataka Government has embarked on a programme called `Grameena Totagarike' (rural horticulture). Through this programme, the Government wants to ensure that proper transfer of technology takes place, along with the subsidies provided. The emphasis was more on transfer of technology, providing necessary training in modern concepts of horticulture, and inculcating quality culture among the farmers, said Mr Vasanth Kumar.

Rural horticulturists would be trained at the `hobli' level and the aim is to help them increase productivity levels and choose cropping patterns depending on market conditions, he said. "We would like to drive home the point that farmers should become competitive and practise horticulture with a business touch," he added. The concept was more interactive in nature and the Horticulture Department had roped in scientists from agricultural universities, said Mr Vasant Kumar. The Finance Department has recently approved the budget outlay of close to Rs 20 lakhs for the project, which was announced by the State Chief Minister in his Budget speech this year.

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