Crops on 54,931 hectare area withered due to lack of water

With the district facing severe drought for the second consecutive year, the government has declared all the seven taluks as drought-hit. Various crops grown on 54,931 hectare region has withered due to insufficient rains and lack of water supply.

According to the initial survey, it has been identified that crops on 54,000 hectare was destroyed due to a prolonged spell of dry weather.

However, the loss is yet to be estimated. With no rain forecast in the near future, if sufficient water is not released into canals from the KRS dam, the loss will be more, fear the farmers.

The first list released by the state government mentioned K R Pet, Malavalli, Pandavapura and Srirangapatna taluks as drought-hit. However, the second list included the remaining three taluks: Mandya, Nagamangala and Maddur.

Malavalli and Nagamangala taluks, which are largely rain-fed are the worst affected and top the list. Srirangapatna, which has more irrigated lands is in the last position.

The district had a target to sow on 2.05 lakh hectare during pre-monsoon, but could achieve sowing only on 1.34 lakh hectare (67%). No agriculture activity has been taken up in the rest of the farm lands.

Shortage of rain
The district has recorded a deficit of 19% rainfall in the current year from April to September.  On an average, the district should have received 464.2 mm rain, but received only 375.2 mm. Moreover, the rainfall was not uniform across the district. So, it did not serve the purpose, as some of the taluks did not get sufficient rains after sowing.

Though the recent decision by the government to release water into canals from KRS dam has brought a ray of hope among the farmers, they are also worried as the authorities have not clarified till when the water will flow into the canals. Only, if the water is released into canals up to December, the crops can be saved, the farmers opine.
DH News Service