Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada has recorded a 25% deficit in southwest monsoon rainfall, with the delayed and deficient rains affecting agricultural activity and slowing paddy transplantation in several parts of the district.

Against the normal average rainfall of 2,646.6 mm, the district had received 1,955.3 mm as of August 8. The rainfall deficit stood at 57% in June and improved to 18% in July as rainfall activity increased. So far in August, the district has received 382.2 mm of rainfall.

The impact is visible in paddy cultivation. Of the 10,000 hectares targeted for paddy cultivation in Dakshina Kannada, transplantation has been completed on 7,976 hectares — nearly 80% of the target area.

Progress has been relatively better in the Mangaluru subdivision, where transplantation has been completed on 5,693 hectares against a target of 5,960 hectares. In Mangaluru taluk, transplantation has covered 1,500 hectares against a target of 1,540 hectares, while Moodbidri has covered 1,648 hectares against 1,790 hectares. Mulki has completed transplantation on 1,696 hectares against a target of 1,740 hectares, while Ullal has covered 849 hectares against 890 hectares.

In Bantwal, transplantation has been completed on 1,506 hectares against a target of 1,600 hectares.

However, progress has been considerably slower in some of the other taluks. Belthangady has completed transplantation on only 428 hectares against a target of 1,740 hectares. Puttur has covered 124 hectares against 245 hectares, while Kadaba has completed transplantation on 97 hectares against a target of 205 hectares. In Sullia, transplantation has been completed on 128 hectares against a target of 250 hectares.

Farmers said the absence of timely pre-monsoon showers in May delayed the preparation of paddy fields. Normally, these showers allow farmers in the coastal region to prepare their fields for the season’s first paddy crop before the onset of the monsoon.

A farmer from Belthangady said he had initially decided not to take up paddy cultivation this year due to the delayed rainfall. However, following heavy rain over the last two days, his paddy field was flooded.

Agriculture Department Joint Director Honnappa Gowda said farmers across the district were adopting both direct sowing and machine-assisted transplantation of paddy seedlings.

Among the taluks, Mulki has recorded the highest rainfall deficit at 41%, followed by Puttur at 39% and Mangaluru at 38%. Bantwal has recorded a 31% deficit, while Belthangady and Ullal have each recorded a 29% shortfall. Moodbidri has recorded a 28% deficit. Sullia and Kadaba have reported the lowest deficits at 7% and 11%, respectively.

Meanwhile, paddy farmers have shown little interest in enrolling under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with the deadline for registration falling on August 14. Officials attributed the poor response partly to the relatively low sum insured for paddy, at Rs 30,595.32 per hectare, and the fact that compensation is linked to seasonal yield loss rather than rainfall alone.