Hailstorm dashes grape growers' hopes

Nearly five tonnes of grapes which were ready for harvesting in a three-acre vineyard belonging to Venkategowda were completely damaged due to the hailstorm, shattering his hopes of clearing loans taken in the previous year. 

Besides, it has left no prospect of growing next crop as the grapevines are also completely damaged.

According to Venkategowda said he had hoped to clear his loan as he had received bumper crop this year. As the grapevines have also been damaged his dreams for tomorrow are also shattered. He may have to wait for three years at least for the newly planted grapevines to begin fruiting.

Legislator K P Bachegowda has urged the government to bail out the growers. Food Processing Unit Task Force Member C K Prabhakar has insisted that farmers in Chikkaballapur district should be provided with facilities such as crop insurance as the region is prone to vagaries of the weather.