<p>At a time when the area of paddy fields is decreasing in Dakshina Kannada district, about 250 acres of farm land, including paddy fields in Harekala and Amblamogaru villages of Mangaluru taluk, have been left fallow due to submersion of farm land in water. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The paddy fields remain submerged till February. As a result, the farmers are not in a position to carry out farming activities on the submerged land. <br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene Organising Secretary Manohar Shetty N said the farmers in the region have been facing the problem for the last 10 years. “Though the farm lands are situated in submerged area during monsoon, the farmers were harvesting second and third crop in a year. Along with paddy, they were cultivating pulses. As the water remains stagnant in farm land till February, the farmers are left with no option, but to leave the field fallow,” he said. <br /><br />After Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene submitted a petition urging the Deputy Commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim to initiate measures to remove the silt from the water body that flows in the region, the DC had directed the Agriculture Department to look into the issue. <br /><br />In his report to the Deputy Commissioner, Agriculture Department Joint Director Kempegowda has said that the two villages are situated on the Netravathi river basin. <br />“As the fields are situated parallel to the river, it would be difficult to drain the water from paddy fields and farm land. When Netravathi river floods, the area gets submerged in water. As a result, 150 to 200 acre paddy fields have been left fallow without cultivation.<br /> <br />At the same time, the water from elevated area during monsoon flows to the water body, carrying soil along with the water. When the water level increases in the river, the water in water body also increases and enters into the paddy fields.To set right the problem, the silt from water body (like stormwater drains) that passes through the region needs to be removed. The retaining walls should be constructed to prevent the intrusion of water to the farm land.”<br /><br />In the report, he had also said that the Minor Irrigation Department can conduct a survey for the technical report on removal of silt from the water body. <br /><br />When Shetty asked officials of the Minor Irrigation Department on removal of silt from water body, its executive engineer stated that the department had not received any letter from the DC’s office seeking a survey in this regard.<br /><br /> Bhaskar, a farmer, said, “The water remains in paddy fields till February. After it gets drained, we get only three months for cultivation. With the silt filling the water body that flows nearby, the flood water enters the fields and remains stagnant.” <br /><br />Shetty said, “We want to ensure that silt is removed from the water body and the farm land is made suitable for cultivation.If the problem of water logging of farm land is solved, then group farming for paddy cultivation by the youth of Harekala and Amblamogaru villages can be taken up.” <br /></p>
<p>At a time when the area of paddy fields is decreasing in Dakshina Kannada district, about 250 acres of farm land, including paddy fields in Harekala and Amblamogaru villages of Mangaluru taluk, have been left fallow due to submersion of farm land in water. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The paddy fields remain submerged till February. As a result, the farmers are not in a position to carry out farming activities on the submerged land. <br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene Organising Secretary Manohar Shetty N said the farmers in the region have been facing the problem for the last 10 years. “Though the farm lands are situated in submerged area during monsoon, the farmers were harvesting second and third crop in a year. Along with paddy, they were cultivating pulses. As the water remains stagnant in farm land till February, the farmers are left with no option, but to leave the field fallow,” he said. <br /><br />After Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene submitted a petition urging the Deputy Commissioner (DC) A B Ibrahim to initiate measures to remove the silt from the water body that flows in the region, the DC had directed the Agriculture Department to look into the issue. <br /><br />In his report to the Deputy Commissioner, Agriculture Department Joint Director Kempegowda has said that the two villages are situated on the Netravathi river basin. <br />“As the fields are situated parallel to the river, it would be difficult to drain the water from paddy fields and farm land. When Netravathi river floods, the area gets submerged in water. As a result, 150 to 200 acre paddy fields have been left fallow without cultivation.<br /> <br />At the same time, the water from elevated area during monsoon flows to the water body, carrying soil along with the water. When the water level increases in the river, the water in water body also increases and enters into the paddy fields.To set right the problem, the silt from water body (like stormwater drains) that passes through the region needs to be removed. The retaining walls should be constructed to prevent the intrusion of water to the farm land.”<br /><br />In the report, he had also said that the Minor Irrigation Department can conduct a survey for the technical report on removal of silt from the water body. <br /><br />When Shetty asked officials of the Minor Irrigation Department on removal of silt from water body, its executive engineer stated that the department had not received any letter from the DC’s office seeking a survey in this regard.<br /><br /> Bhaskar, a farmer, said, “The water remains in paddy fields till February. After it gets drained, we get only three months for cultivation. With the silt filling the water body that flows nearby, the flood water enters the fields and remains stagnant.” <br /><br />Shetty said, “We want to ensure that silt is removed from the water body and the farm land is made suitable for cultivation.If the problem of water logging of farm land is solved, then group farming for paddy cultivation by the youth of Harekala and Amblamogaru villages can be taken up.” <br /></p>