Adverse climate worries agriculturists in Sringeri

Farmers prefer to keep off their paddy fields in many places in the taluk

Frequent drizzles amidst sunshine and cloudy atmosphere across the taluk has become a reason for worry among areca growers.

The very kind of weather can trigger the cause for a round of fruit-rot disease in areca, and the growers have been rapidly undertaking control measures to check the disease.

The sprinkling of Bordo solution has not been completed in most of the areca plantations, although the disease has affected many areca trees – even after the solution was sprinkled. Also, the market rate of areca has seen a low, which has, in turn, led to an increase in panic among the agriculturists. Adding to the problems, pests – including monkeys – have been attacking the areca plantations situated close to the forest areas, to chew and discard tender areca nuts.

While most of the agriculturists have already lost hope in paddy cultivation, some of them are greatly disappointed – again due to adverse weather conditions. Though 60 per cent of transplantation work on the crop has been completed, there are other problems too to fight against, for the agriculturists – like acute shortage of water – which have resulted in the drying of the crops and also giving rise to diseases.

Meteorological Department officer G V Mohan has said that the taluk has received 655 mm lesser rain, as compared to last year. “This year, there has been 2676.6 mm rain as against the 3334.8 mm rain last year. The paddy fields in the high-lying areas are facing the problem of acute water shortage. As the groundwater level has gone down, there is lesser amount of water in ponds and streams, which may result in acute shortage of drinking water, in the days to come,” he said.