Dakshina Kannada, Udupi receive less rainfall than last year

Mangalore, Oct 9: The average rainfall received in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts this year has been comparatively lesser than last year. However, so far the rainfall has been higher than expected at the beginning of the year.

With the average annual rainfall of Dakshina Kannada being 3,912.2 mm, the district receives an average of 3,573 mm rainfall till the end of September. While the total rainfall in the district till September 30 last year was 3,764.5 mm, this year it only came up to 3,303 mm, i.e. 400 mm lesser rainfall than last year.

While in Udupi district, the average annual rainfall received each year is 4,102.9 mm. Last year, the average rainfall received was 4,596 mm, while the average rainfall received till October 6 last year was 4,551.3 mm. This year, the average rainfall till October 6 was 4,000 mm, 550 mm lesser rainfall than the previous year.

In various taluks in Dakshina Kannada, the rainfall measured in the previous year and current year (till September) are as follows: Bantwal 3,506 mm, 3,201 mm; Belthangady 4,630 mm, 3,759 mm; Mangalore 3,413 mm, 2,985 mm; Puttur 3,831 mm, 3,756 mm; Sullia 3,440 mm, 2,813 mm.

The amount of rainfall received this year is mostly lesser comparatively. Although not by a bigger margin, the rainfall received by both the districts has been less.

Along with various factors such as rising real estate prices, shortage of labourers and attractive job prospects in other fields, lessening rainfall has led to a steady decline in the cultivation of paddy by agriculturists.

With this, the state government has to import around 3 lakh tonnes of rice each month from other states to fulfill the demand of rice under the'Anna Bhagya' scheme.