JOIN USHailstorm destroys vineyards
However, the damage it has caused to the vineyards and as a result the farmers cutting off the grape plants is something that has come to light recently.
When the hailstorm falls from a great height, the grape plant is hit very hard. Such plants will not flower in the next flowering season. Hence, the grape plants have to be rooted out and new plants planted in their places.
It is a heartrending sight to see the farmers cutting of the grape plants.
Even the farmers who have to perform this act are experiencing this emotion. “The plants that we had planted are like our own children. We knew the quality of each and every plant. We had watered and put manure to the plants. Hence when we cut the plants it hits us very hard and we feel for it at the pit of our stomach,” said farmer Manjunath.
Grapes have been grown in a 300-acre vineyard near Aruru in the taluk’s Bandhalli and Pillagundahalli. It costs around Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per acre to grow grapes. In the beginning to get the first crop it requires a minimum of two years.
Hence, many of the farmers who have lost the crop due to hailstorm are being forced to shed tears of blood. Such farmers who are not able to share their grief are forced to swallow all the pain. This has also become a prestige issue as the farmers who grow grapes are generally considered to be economically well-off.
Many such farmers who do not want to share their plight behave as though nothing has happened. And some of them who stand defeated have no other alternative but to think of suicides.Pillagundlahalli farmer Chennappa has grown grapes in eight acres of land.
He also had got a healthy crop. There was also a good price for the grapes this time. For every kg of grapes he was getting between Rs 25 to Rs 30 and making an income of nearly Rs 5 lakh per acre.
The hailstorm has swallowed this profit. Chennappa has suffered a loss of nearly Rs 40 lakh. He has to invest another Rs 40 lakh to grow the grapes again. He has to wait another two years for the next crop.
If the old crop was there he could have got four crops in another two years. Now he has lost the income of the four crops, said Chennappa sharing his problems.
The problems of another farmer Doddappaiah from the same village is no different. He is also forced to cut the plants as they have been destroyed due to hailstorm.
Many such farmers unable to face the life and death situations are sitting defeated.
The Government has to come forward with insurance schemes for such sensitive horticulture crops. If one goes for insurance with private companies it will cost a lot for the farmers. Hence, the farmers are scared to go to the private players, said progressive farmer Yaluvhalli Ramesh.
Compensation
Through National Horticulture Mission, insurance should be provided for horticulture crops. Suitable compensation should be given for the crops destroyed due to natural calamities.
Before they think of attempting suicides, the Government should immediately come to the resuce of such farmers, urged the farmers.