Untimely rains damage crops worth Rs 144.5 crore

Digging borewells up to 700 feet fails to provide water to ryots

Lack of timely rains in the district has failed to save the crops and the farmers who had taken loans to raise the crops have run into debt traps.

Farmer Puttamallegowda eyes was dampened as he explained his problems to Deccan Herald. He had sown jowar in his two acre land and castor seeds in another acre by raising hand loans hoping to return after harvesting.

As the monsoon disappointed the farmers in the district the crops have wilted. Rains that lashed the district in the past two days has not made any difference as it is not of any help to the farmers. Now, he has sown horsegram as it would provide fodder for the cattle.

Another farmer Mahadev said ragi and horsegram that were sown in his two-acre land has dried.

He had pledged gold ornaments to buy seeds and fertilisers. But, the crops disappointed him as there was no profit.  Since there was rains for the last two days some have begun to sow horsegram and he is working as a labourer in those lands for daily wages of Rs 300 and has to now depend on it to lead life, he lamented.

As the border district has experienced less rainfall the farmers are suffering from drought. Those who had pawned their articles with a hope are in a shock.

Though the government had announced the four taluks of the district as drought-hit, the district administration has failed to take any steps to provide relief to the farmers here. The elected representatives and officials who make spot visit are content with just photographing themselves and forgetting the issue, the locals claimed.

Harave village of the district is the perfect example for drought-hit.

No water

Though borewells are dug up to 600 to 700 feet depth there is no water and the water table has depleted.

Terakanambi, Hangala, Kasaba, Beguru of Gundlupet taluk, Harave, Santhemarahalli of Chamarajanagar taluk, Hanur, Ramapura, Lokanahalli, Palya of Kollegal taluk and Agara hobli of Yalandur taluk also experienced very less rainfall.

In all 1,58,498 hectare of land in the district is used for agricultural purpose.  Seeds were sown in 1,56,424 hectare. The crops including ragi, jowar, black gram, sunflower, groundnut and horsegram in 84,005 acres of land has dried.

There is an aim to sow in at least 20,748 acres of land in post-monsoon period and till now seeds have been sown in 3,299 hectares of land.