The Agriculture Department has set a target of 4.02 lakh hectares for kharif sowing in Yadgir.

The monsoon is expected to arrive during the first week of June and the department has announced the sowing target for the 2026-27 kharif season.

It was 4.16 lakh hectares last year and compared to it, there will be a shortfall of 14,000 hectares coverage this year.

Pre-monsoon showers, which are normally favorable for farmers to start farming activities, were recorded in only a few parts of the district.

And, the farming community is waiting for a good spell of showers to carry out intensive agricultural activities, including preparation of land for kharif sowing.

Out of the targeted area of 4,02,045 hectares, 2,02,453 hectares is for cotton, followed by 97,468 hectares for paddy, 85,000 hectares for red gram and 13,770 hectares for green gram, sources said.

Irrigated area targeted for sowing is slightly higher than dry area this time. The irrigated area accounts for 2,02,842 hectares, while 1,99,203 hectares is dry land.

“The department is prepared to supply sowing seeds on demand. As much as 3,895 quintals of different varieties of seeds are in stock,” Joint Director of Agriculture Department Ratendranath Sugur has said.

According to information made available, the district is required to have 1.52 lakh tonnes of fertilizers for the season. Of this, 37,000 tonnes are available.

Meanwhile, general secretary of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Mallikarjun Satyampet has said: “The department has to take all initiatives to stock fertilizers along with sowing seeds. The officials also have to take strict action preventing the sale of substandard sowing seeds by private companies.”