Sowing for rabi season has been slowly but steadily picking up in Gulbarga district. According to agriculture department sowing has been completed in about 19 per cent of the targeted area so far.
Rabi sowing has been planned in an area of 6,53,729 hectares including 43560 hectares under irrigation and 6,10,235 hectares of rainfed area.

By the end of October second week sowing was completed in 1,23,930 hectares accounting for 18.95 per cent of the total targeted area. The sown area includes 1,980 hectares of irrigated area and 1,21,950 hectares of dry land.

Rabi jowar has been sown in 48,115 hectares, followed by Bengal Gram in 62,495 hectares, sunflower in 12,010 hectares, safflower in 1,245 hectares and rabi cotton in 65 hectares.

The taluk- wise progress in rabi sowing is as follows with figures in brackets indicating the targeted area: Afzalpur - 5,135 hectares (69,340 hectares); Aland - 22,185 hectares (90,850 hectares); Chincholi -19,199 hectares (65,175 hectares); Chittapur - 13,140 hectares (24,725 hectares); Gulbarga - 9,675  hectares (62,825 hectares); Jewargi - 10,105 hectares (78,275 hectares); Sedam - 5,115 hectares (50,075 hectares); Shahapur - 9,915 hectares (53,080 hectares); Surapur - 10,115 hectares (50,925 hectares); Yadgir - 9,426 hectares (57,525 hectares).

According to seasonal condition report there were some difficulties to undertake rabi operations due to incessant rain in September. When sowing started it was found that moisture in the soil was getting reduced. It is feared that the targeted rabi sowing may not be possible due to fortnight long dry spell in October.
The agriculture department said further rabi sowing would be possible if it rained in the third and fourth week of October and first week of November.

Tur may wither
Due to dry soil the late sown tur crop would start withering. From January to October the average rainfall of the district is 752.46 mm but the actual rainfall up to October 14 was 667.56 mm.