Madikeri: Kodagu district has seen a sharp decline in crop cultivation in the 2026-27 monsoon season due to a major shortfall in rainfall, affecting both rainfed and irrigated farming.This time, the target was to grow paddy in a total of 17,500 hectares in Kodagu, but so far, planting has been done in only 347 hectares. Joint cirector of agriculture, Kodagu, Chandrashekhar confirmed TOI that the paddy sowing has plummeted to 1.98% of total target area.Last year, paddy planting was completed in 3,000 hectares in the district during this duration. In Madikeri taluk, planting has been done in 67.2 hectares, Kushalnagar 20 hectares, Somwarpet 196 hectares, Virajpet 16 hectares and Ponnampet 48 hectares.Apart from this, out of the targeted 1,850 hectares, 1,254 hectares of jowar has been planted and 67% target has been achieved. Millet cultivation has been almost nil against the targeted 25 hectares of millet. Out of the total target of 19,375 hectares, including paddy, jowar and millet, only 1,646 hectares have been cultivated so far, which is 8.5% achievement.
