Farmers of Kalaburagi, who were hit hard due to failure of the monsoon, continue to suffer in the Rabi season with 87.58 per cent of their crop being lost. Official sources told Express on Thursday that as per the preliminary survey of the agriculture department, of the targeted 5.08 lakh hectares of Rabi sowing in the district, farmers cultivated in 4.54 lakh hectares and the entire sown area was affected due to dry spell. The district witnessed crop loss in about 3.98 lakh hectares (87.58 per cent). Jowar was cultivated in 2.02 lakh hectares of the targeted 2.49 lakh hectares and the crop standing in 1.77 lakh hectares was completely damaged. Wheat was grown in 7,925 hectares against the targeted 16,000 hectares but the crop has been wiped out in 6,103 hectares. Bengal gram was cultivated in 1.96 lakh hectares out of targeted 2.06 lakh hectares and loss was reported in 1.77 lakh hectares. Horse gram was grown in 77 hectares of the targeted 200 hectares and loss was reported in 67 hectares. Sunflower was grown in 36,130 hectares out of targeted 27,367 hectares of land and crop loss in 32,309 hectares has been registered in the preliminary survey. The findings of the survey on crop loss in Rabi season have been sent to the government a few days back, sources said. In the Kharif season, crop in 5.11 lakh hectares was completely damaged. Farmer Ends Life in kalaburagi taluk A farmer committed suicide after taking loans from private moneylenders for repaying the loan he had availed from a nationalised bank, at Nandikoor village in Kalaburagi taluk. The deceased has been identified as Hunacheppa Pujari (57). His brother Anneppa told reporters that Hunacheppa took a loan of Rs 3 lakh from the State Bank of Hyderabad a few years ago. The bank officials issued notice to Hunacheppa to immediately repay the loan amount with interest. They later asked him to repay `4 lakh towards final settlement. Hunacheppa borrowed from moneylenders and settled his loan account a few days ago. As the moneylenders started asking for money, Hunacheppa consumed poison at his home on Wednesday evening. He died at the Kalaburagi District Government Hospital on Thursday morning.

Source - newindianexpress.com