Cup of miseries brims over for farmers in Karnataka’s ‘sugar bowl’
The undivided Vijayapura and Belagavi districts which boast of having five rivers — Krishna, Bheema, Doni, Ghataprabha and Malaprabha – flowing through them are in the clutches of a severe drought this season.
Of the total 40 taluks in Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Belagavi districts, 34 have been declared severely drought-hit by the government.
Scanty rainfall during the kharif season coupled with faulty water and power supply systems have compounded the farmers’ problems.
Farmers who had borrowed money from banks and private moneylenders incurred massive losses as crops started to wither during the germination and flowering stage.
In Vijayapura district, which is known for its major crops tur and sugarcane, sowing was completed on 6.1 lakh hectares against the target of 7.1 lakh hectares.
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