Rs 82 crore crop loss estimated in Chikkaballapur district

The district administration has submitted a proposal to the state government estimating crop loss on 1.25 lakh hectare in the district, due to deficit rainfall and has sought Rs 82.92 crore as compensation for farmers.

Recently officials of the Revenue and Agriculture department had conducted a survey and submitted a report to the deputy commissioner.

According to officials, crops on 1.25 lakh hectare have been damaged, considering the criteria of the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).

“Out of this total 1.25 lakh hectares, 1.4 lakh hectare is owned by marginal and small landholders and 15,784 lakh hectare by large landholders. The proposal estimates Rs 71 crore and Rs 11 crore for small and large land holders, respectively. According to NDRF guidelines Rs 6,800 and Rs 13,000 of compensation per hectare is provided for rain-fed and irrigated lands respectively,” the officials explain.

Once the state government collects information about the drought-hit areas and submit a report, a central team will visit the areas to assess the situation. The Central team is expected to arrive in state by the end of this month or November first week and the compensation is likely to be released after December, according to officials.

Almost 97 % of sowing was done, following good rains in June and July. But due to deficiency in an average rainfall of 83 % in August and 73 % in September, Ragi on 43,073 hectare, maize on 51,181 hectare, groundnut on 29,565 hectare and tur on 13,317 have been damaged, according to official sources. Last year, 80 % of produce was lost to rain defieciency and Rs 44.11 crore compensation was released for the district.

Drought tag for Gauribidanur likely

The state government had declared five taluks out of six as drought-hit, based on weather conditions reported in August and September. But, we have proposed the government to include Gauribidanur in  the list. The government is likely to officially decalre Gowribidanur as drought-hit shortly, said Agriculture department officials.