The farmers’ gamble with the rain did not pay off this year as Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet taluks, which received good pre-monsoon rainfall did not receive anticipated showers in July, affecting the crops that were sown during the season.
In all, 45,591 hectares of land, under Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet region, have been affected and the crops have withered in the initial phase due to scarcity of rains since the past one month in the district. So, the Agriculture Department has prepared an estimate report of crop loss in four taluks of the district, that includes both — crops affected due to dry spell and regions where sowing was not taken up.
According to the report, 99,861 hectares of land has been affected, including 45,591 hectare which was sown and 54,270 hectare that was not sown.
Joint survey
The estimated crop loss, according to the report, is Rs 57.43 crore.
A joint survey will be conducted again by the Revenue and Agriculture Departments for the final assessment, which will be formally announced by the Deputy Commissioner. But, sowing activities have not been taken up in Kollegal and Yalandur taluks due to dryspell, even after two months of pre-monsoon.
Source - http://www.deccanherald.com
