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Crops wilt; uncertainty looms large

80 per cent of crops are lost for want of water and inadequate moisture in soil
Last Updated 11 June 2012, 18:05 IST

Elusive monsoon has left farmers in the region completely distraught.

Most of the farmers who had sown hybrid maize, native maize, urad, green gram, and sunflower, are staring at a huge crop loss this time around. Cup of woes for the district don’t seem to end since the region was declared drought-hit last year, when the monsoon failed. And this year too, things don’t seem to be looking up.

While pre-monsoon showers began in April and May, farmers had sown seeds with the hope that rains may not fail them this year.

However, with showers eluding at the time when seeds germinated and developed into saplings, crops have wilted for want of water.

In April, the district had received 79.18 mm rains as against 58 mm which is the norm. While May should have brought 134 mm rains, district received only 51.58 mm. Ever since, district has not received rains at all.

About 1.71 lakh hectares land is available for agriculture in the district. In 87,147 hectares grows grains and 21,823 grows pulses, oil seeds are grown in 36,428 acres  with 12,205 hectares growing commercially viable crops. Target was set at 1,57,598 hectares being sown in the current monsoon season.

About 64,556 hectares were already sown with 38 per cent lands covered, rest of the land where sowing activity was completed, are all dried up.

With this, almost 80 per cent crops are lost for want of water and inadequate moisture in soil.

According to department of agriculture, majority of the crops are lost and this is bound to affect the agricultural produce from the district. Gundlupet district, where major sowing was done, farmers are watching their crops wilt under glaring sun with every passing day.

If situation continues like this, drought is not too distant, say the farmers. Areas affected include Kasaba, Santemarahalli, Harave, Gundlupet, Hangala, Kollegala, Hanur and other places where crops have dropped dead to the ground.

While the drop in agricultural produce is certainly going to affect humans, the worst affected are going to be the cattle. Apart from fodder and cattlefeed which would turn into a rarity, cattle would also find it tough to get their share of drinking water.

Joint director of agriculture, M Chandrashekhar said the officials have been directed to prepare an estimate on crop loss in the district.

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(Published 11 June 2012, 18:05 IST)

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