Crops worth `14 cr damaged in Chikmagalur

30 pc sowing could not be taken up due to scanty rainfall

“About 70 per cent of the sowing has been completed in Kadur taluk. Owing to scanty rainfall, 30 per cent sowing could not be taken up. About 50 per cent of the crops which have been sowed were damaged. Hence, incurring a loss of Rs 2.20 crore,” said Joint Director.

He said that crops worth Rs 65 lakh in Lakhya hobli and Rs 7 lakh in Ambale hobli have been damaged. A report has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner.

The horticulture department Deputy Director said that onion crops were damaged in Lakhya hobli and Kadur taluk. The loss has been estimated at Rs 11.12 lakh.

‘With the scanty rainfall, the district is facing severe shortage of fodder for cattle. We have sought Rs 30 lakh from Deputy Commissioner to provide fodder to the farmers,” said Animal husbandry department Deputy Director.

With the increase in rainfall in Malnad region, horticulture crops are suffering from fruit rot disease and the farmers are incurring huge loss, said a ZP member.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Range Gowda said a detailed survey on the rain loss has not been carried out in the district. The detail on the loss will be furnished in the next meeting.

The members Anandappa and Krishnamurthy said that there is severe shortage of water in Tarikere taluk. The engineers have failed to solve the problem after inspecting the region, he added. The engineer said that he will tour Tarikere district for three days from September 30 to take steps to solve the problem.