Karnataka ; ‘75% of maize crop lost due to rainfall deficit, ragi can sustain’
Nearly 75% of Davangere’s maize crop across 61,000 hectares has been lost due to prolonged rainfall deficit, while 37,000 hectares of ragi remains potentially recoverable with moderate rains. Crop losses in four taluks are estimated at ₹62 crore, with around ₹104 crore compensation expected.
Davangere: Following a prolonged rainfall deficit, nearly 75% of the maize crop sown across 61,000 hectares in the district has been lost. Only farmers with access to irrigation facilities such as borewells and sprinklers have been able to sustain their crops.
However, the Agriculture Department remains hopeful about saving the ragi crop, which has been sown on around 37,000 hectares across the district, provided the region receives moderate rains in the coming days.
According to sources in the Agriculture Department, maize has been cultivated on 61,000 hectares across Davangere, Jagalur, Channagiri, Nyamathi and Harihar taluks. However, the poor monsoon has severely affected the crop, and many farmers are unlikely to get a good yield. Ragi has been cultivated on around 37,000 hectares . Jagalur tops the district in the area of cultivation of ragi.
Hope for ragi
Speaking to DH, Joint Director of Agriculture Ziaulla K said: “There is no possibility of maize recovering even if it rains now. However, there is still hope for the ragi crop. Jagalur taluk received moderate rains a few days ago, and similar spells of rain could benefit the ragi crop. “We are anticipating such spells of rain in the coming days,” he said.
On crop loss, he said that, according to the survey conducted by the department, crop loss in four taluks- Channagiri, Nyamathi, Davangere, and Honnali has been estimated at Rs 62 crore, and crops grown on 75,000 hectares have been affected.
Farmers of Jagalur and Harihar taluks are expected to receive Rs 42 crore in compensation under the crop insurance scheme. In total, farmers across the district are expected to receive compensation of around Rs 104 crore. Ziaulla also expressed confidence that Harihar taluk would be declared drought-hit in the coming days.
Regarding soybean cultivation, he said the crop had been sown on less than 1,000 hectares in the district. He also advised farmers against attempting to save the damaged maize crop using water tankers. He said ragi crop can still be protected and that another spell of rain would be highly beneficial.
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Source : Deccan Herald
