Deficient rain hits farmers hard

Ragi, groundnut crops withering in district

 The crops, sown by the farmers of the district, have started withering due to lack of rain in all taluks.

Ragi has withered in most of the places in Gubbi, Kunigal, Turuvekere, Tiptur, Chikkanayakanahalli and Tumakuru taluks. At some villages, farmers are hoping that they should at least get some grass for cattle.

The condition in Pavagad, Koratagere, Madhugiri and Sira taluks has further worsened. The condition of groundnut growers is worrisome. They are hoping that they should at least some their investment back, if not the profits.

According to estimates by the Agriculture Department, the yield of groundnut would be at least 50 percent down this time. The lack of rain at the time of seed formation is said to be reason for this.

The department has estimated that the yield would not increase even if the district gets heavy rain now.

At Dodderi hobli in Madhugiri taluk, one can see the dried up groundnut field. The farmers fear that they might not even get 10 percent yield this time.

Siddagangaiah, a resident of Bandehalli in Koratagere taluk, said, “We have spent at least Rs 8,000 to 10,000 per acre. We may require at least 10 years to recover from this loss.”

The Ragi crop shown in Thovinakere, Kuramkote, Boodagavi and Agrahara Panchayat jurisdiction in Koratagere taluk is completely destroyed.

Nataraj, a farmer of Garugadoddi in the taluk, said, “We sowed groundnut with high expectations thinking that it would rain heavily this time. Now we are suffering. Who wants to practise agriculture now? We don’t even touch groundnut from next year.”
Ganganna of Chennenahalli said, “We have lost the hope of Ragi crop this year. We are also facing the problem of fodder for our crops. The government has not given the incentive for the past six months for the milk supplied. If this is the case, how can we led our life?”

Tanker water for crop
The farmers, who could see their crops drying, have supplied tanker water to the crop.
At Naliganahalli, Arlahalli and Bommathanalli, the farmers have paid Rs 300 to 400 per tanker to supply water to their crop.

They are hopeful that rain might save their crops.

No rain in August
The district received more rain in monsoon season. But the lack of rain in August month is the reason for withering of crops. The district has received only 13.8 mm of rain instead of the regular 63.1 mm.

Last year drought
The district had faced a worst drought last year.  Fifteen farmers had committed suicide due to failure of crops and depletion of underground water. Among them, a compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been given to 10 farmers.