Bengaluru: The forecast of a bountiful monsoon season has left farmers with mixed feelings as on the one hand they hope to cash in, but on the other they feel a collective twinge of apprehension over availability of sowing seeds and fertiliser.The southwest monsoon — from June to Oct — is not only predicted to bring above-normal rainfall (104%) but is also expected to arrive a week earlier than usual in Karnataka.This has pushed updemand for sowing seedsand fertiliser.Consequently, statewide sowing area is expected to rise by at least 7% as the target for 2025 is fixed at 114.5 lakh hectares compared to 107 lakh hectares last year for both southwest and northeast (between Nov and Jan) monsoons. This is expected to result in a jump in food production as the govt has set a target of 148.5 lakh tonnes for food grain production — a significant 27% rise over last year’s 111.5 lakh tonnes.But the worry over govt support persists.“Farmers can reap benefits of good rain and achieve this target only when the govt ensures timely and adequate supply of sowing seeds and fertiliser,” said T Yaswantha, general secretary, Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha.The agriculture department, in review documents, has projected demand for seeds at 7.2 lakh quintals — a jump from 6.5 lakh quintals. It has stock available for 6 lakh quintals. Last year, farmers purchased some 48 lakh tonnes of fertiliser and demand is expected to jump to about 50 lakh this year.Agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy insists farmers need not worry as the govt has put in place measures to ensure adequate supply of all agricultural inputs. “We have taken steps to support farmers,” Cheluvarayaswamy said. “Stock of sowing seeds and fertiliser have been checked. There will be no scarcity.”GT Putra, agriculture director, concurred, saying: “We will ensure there is no scarcity of quality seeds.” He went on to say that the govt, as a matter of policy, is emphasising lesser use of chemical fertiliser and is encouraging farmers to pursue natural farming.But Yaswantha differed, pointing to distress at Raitha Samparka Kendras through which the govt supplies seeds and fertilisers to farmers. He said none of these kendras in taluks are functional and while there is brisk agricultural activity across the state thanks to surplus pre-monsoon rains, farmers have been forced to buy seeds and fertiliser from private vendors.Moreover, he said, the hike in seed prices has been a dampener since the govt cut subsidies by 50% last year. Several farmer leaders too have urged the govt to help farmers with adequate measures.”A big issue is that the agriculture department is suffering from a severe staff crunch,” said HR Basavarajappa, president, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha-Hasiru Sene. “There are no field officers and village assistants to take care of farmers’ needs. A large contingent of outsourced employees has replaced them. The govt must address this issue on priority.”