Bengaluru : , Nov 23, 2003 – Heavy rains caused severe damage to Karnataka’s horticultural and agricultural crops.Jowar crops in the north Karnataka have been damaged, as well as ragi from southern Karnataka. Jower is the main food in north Karnataka while ragi is the preferred diet for the south.
Since September, heavy rains have affected five lakh hectares of Karnataka’s agricultural crop production.
For 30,114 hectares, horticulture crop losses have been evaluated.
As many as 3,000 hectares worth of grapeyards and other horticultural products were destroyed in Chikkaballapur, a district famous for its horticultural production.
Farmers will have to wait another month before they can reap their fruits and vegetables.
Estimates suggest that around 60,000 hectares worth of crops, including Ragi crops of 25,000 ha and rose farms covering hundreds of acres in Chikkaballapur, were destroyed.
All officers of the Agriculture Department were directed to conduct surveys on crop losses.
Incessant rainfalls from August and September, which affected 1.5 lakh farmers, caused damage to crops on 3.43 million hectares.The farming community has suffered immense damage since November’s torrential rains.
The Karnataka government has released Rs 130 crore to farmers.
The Karnataka government is still seeking compensation for 79,000 farmers.Chief Minister Basavaraj Bhommai directed for the release of Rs.79 crore to pay for this.
The Chief Minister Bommai has instructed officers to act and speed up the disbursement of crop loss insurance amounts by insurance companies to farmers.
Bommai, the Chief Minister of India has given instructions to repair irrigation tanks in wartime.
The government estimates that the rains have caused extensive damage in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural as well as Tumakuru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagar and Hassan.
Farmers in coastal Karnataka and south are praying for rain, because they might be able to breathe a sigh relief from the increased areca nut harvest if it stops.
Rains have caused damage to farmers’ houses as well.
Sources claim that the initial report of the damage showed that 658 houses had been completely destroyed and 8 495 were damaged in part.The incident also led to the deaths of 191 animals.
To meet the immediate needs for rain-affected people and areas, a sum of Rs 689 Crore has been made available to District Commissioners through National Disaster Relief Fund.Bommai, the Chief Minister has promised to allocate additional funds as necessary.
As the first relief package for people who have lost their homes, action has already been taken to release Rs 1 lakh immediately.
The state’s rice bowl, Koppal District, saw the total destruction of its paddy fields.
Also, the harvest paddy that was stored on open fields perished.Farmers in the paddy-growing district of Karatagi, Gangavathi Taluks are seeking help from the government.
Farmers are in deep despair after the crop was destroyed just as grain formation for the paddy crop had ended and was about to be harvested.
In Khanapur and Chikkodi regions in Belagavi district, the destruction of wheat, jowers, tobacco, Bengalgrams, sugarcane, Nippani and Bailhongal was complete.
Rains also caused damage to onion and chili crops in Gadag, Chitradurga, and the surrounding areas of central Karnataka.
Also, coffee crops in the hilly areas of Chikkamagalur and Kodagu are also affected.
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