Kadur taluk and three hoblis of Chikkamagaluru taluk are reeling under drought-like situation. With the withering of horticulture and agriculture crops, the district administration has estimated the loss at Rs 35.46 crore. The officials from revenue, agriculture and horticulture departments had conducted a joint survey led by tahsildar and submitted a report to the district administratoion. The district administration is likely to submit the report to State government within two days, said highly placed sources to Deccan Herald. The survey included more than 33 per cent loss of crops in two taluks. Crops on 44,354 hectares of land have been damaged incurring a loss of Rs 27.63 crore. Horticulture crops have been damaged on 5,748 hectares of land and the loss is estimated to be Rs 7.82 crore. Crops like Ragi, maize, groundnut, sunflower, sesame, cotton, potato, tomato, onion, chillies and other vegetables have been affected due to lack of rain. Crops have been affected in Lakya, Ambale Kasaba hoblis in Chikkamagaluru taluk and Birur, Sakharayapattana and Hirenallur hoblis in Kadur taluk, said an official who was part of the joint survey. Farmer Muguluvalli Gurushanthappa said “all the kharif crops have been damaged. We could not sow paddy and ragi. By looking at the market price of onion, it makes one wonder whether the loss of crops are scientifically calculated by the district administration. The officials have not visited the farmers land to conduct a survey. The loss of crops in Lakhya hobli alone would cross Rs 35 crore. There is a need to conduct the survey scientifically.” Survey report Agriculture department Joint Director M C Seetha said “The report has been prepared based on the joint survey conducted by revenue and agriculture department officials.” “The district has received only 84.4 per cent of rainfall. The district should have received 1,607.9 mm of rainfall. However, it has received only 1,357.7 mm of rainfall as on September 16. Though Kadur, Chikkamagaluru and Tarikere received more than the annual rainfall, the scanty rainfall in the month of July and August affected sowing,” said the officials. Source - http://www.deccanherald.com