Crops grown in over 1.05 lakh hectare damaged in Dharwad dist

Dharwad: The untimely rain, that lashed the district continuously for four days, has shattered the hopes of farmers who were expecting some recovery from the loss they suffered in August and September.
The farmers, particularly those who had grown chilli, cotton and paddy, and horticulturists have incurred heavy losses.
As per the report by the agriculture and horticulture officials, agriculture crops in 96,583 hectare have been damaged, and horticulture crops in 8,759 hectare land have been washed away.
The untimely rain has rubbed salt on the wounds of farmers who were already struggling to get a scientific price for their produce. The report says that cotton and red chilli crops have suffered severe damage, followed by Bengal gram, maize, jowar, and paddy.
Red chilli grown in Kundgol and Hubballi taluks has been damaged in about 7,000 hectare. Chilli was grown in 22,000 hectare and almost 40% of the crop has suffered damage. Onion, flowers, tomato and various vegetables grown on 8,759 hectare of land have been lost.
The report further says that cotton in 11,616 hectare, maize in 4,213 hectare, paddy in 2,138 hectare, jowar in 755 hectare and wheat in 535 hectare have been lost due to rains.
The break-up of loss: standing crops grown on 3,455 hectare in Dharwad, 1,701 hectare in Alnavar, 14,071 hectare in Hubballi Rural, 964 hectare in Hubballi Urban, 4,058 hectare in Kalghatgi, 31,805 hectare in Kundgol, 26,121 hectare in Navalgund, and 14,408 hectare in Annigeri.
Farmers have been demanding for a scientific crop damage survey and that Dharwad be announced as a flood-hit district so farmers can get proper compensation.
Floriculturists in Uppinbetageri, Mangalgatti, and Kurubgatti have also suffered maximum loss. Marigold flowers, which used to fetch them Rs 250 per kg, have been totally damaged. Flowers grown in more than 130 hectare land have been damaged, says the report.
Meanwhile, DC Nitesh Patil visited some of the fields in Kundgol, Dharwad and Hubballi taluks and took stock of the situation. He said a joint survey by the revenue, agriculture and horticulture officials has commenced to assess crop damage. “Although there has been no rain in the last 48 hours, downpour of the recent past has left a trail of destruction,” he said.
The DC said he has collected information from farmers who have lost their standing crops and also from the owners of houses which have either completely destroyed and partially collapsed.
The details of crop and property damage due to rains was submitted to the government on Monday.