Rice price nears 100/kg, Karnataka farmers seek 2tmcft ‘water loan’
Farmers and rice millers in Karnataka’s Kalyana region have sought 2 TMC feet of additional water from November 20 to mid-December to protect the drought-hit paddy crop. They warned that 80% of standing crops could perish, threatening ₹2,500 crore in investments and further tightening rice supplies.
BENGALURU: With the price of rice threatening to breach Rs 100 a kg for the first time in drought-hit Karnataka, farmers and rice mill owners in Kalyana Karnataka have sought 2tmcft of ‘water loan’ from Nov 20 to mid-Dec to save kharif crop in Tungabhadra area.
Ahead of a meeting with CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday, farmers told TOI that 80% of the standing paddy crop could perish if govt does not ensure supply of water until Dec 15. With more than 6 lakh farmers investing Rs 40,000 per acre for paddy crop, Rs 2,500 crore is at stake.
“We’re asking the govt to give us 2 tmcft of the proposed 4 tmcft to be released to Andhra,” said Hanumanagouda Dalagurki, former chairperson of Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.
Irrigated by Krishna and Tungabhadra, Kalyana Karnataka produces 70-75 lakh metric tonnes of rice annually. Of this, 60% comes from Tungabhadra command area, which spans Raichur, Koppal, Vijayanagara and Ballari. There is, however, no loss in areas irrigated by the Krishna as there is excess water from Alamatti reservoir.In Tungabhadra area, paddy cultivation has declined by 50%.
“If the govt ensures water supply until the first week of Dec, paddy will reach the market, stabilise prices,” said Savitri Purushottam, president of Karnataka State Rice Mills Association.
Large-scale rice exports dip amid high domestic demand
Referring to the govt’s announcement that water for irrigation would be available only until Nov 20, farmer leaders demanded support at least until Dec 10. A rice mill owner from Sindhanur in Raichur district said each rice mill employs 60-75 people directly and supports another 150–200 people indirectly.
Shortage has affected export to West Asian countries, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United States and Europe. With domestic demand remaining high, large-scale exports have declined significantly.
Irrigation consultative committee for Tungabhadra project and Vijayanagara canals, which met in the first week of October, had decided to release water only for irrigation until Nov 20, considering the limited availability of water in Tungabhadra reservoir.
The reservoir had a total storage of 53tmc, of which Karnataka’s share was 25.25tmc, Andhra Pradesh’s 18.5 and Telangana’s 1.5. Of the remaining storage, 2tmc was earmarked as dead storage.
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Source : The Times Of India
