Hosapete: In an irony of sorts, the Central team that visited various parts of the district to assess the acute drought situation witnessed a short spell of rain, leaving farmers to wonder whether the rain would be a blessing or a curse, after complaining about the loss of crops due to the rain deficit.
Moments before the rain, Halamma, a farmer woman of Chigateri, complained to the team that she had sown maize on two acres of land. However, owing to lack of rain, the crop dried up. Hoping to receive rabi rain, she sowed ragi, but in vain. She complained to the team that she was in despair as she incurred loans worth lakhs of rupees.
Similar was the plight of Kottesh of Myduru. He said he incurred a loss of Rs 7 lakh as onion grown in two acres of land was destroyed due to rain deficit. However, there was a brief spell of rain that left farmers to blame their times.
Team takes detour
The district officials who had accompanied the Central team were caught by surprise when the Central team took a detour from the scheduled visits to the fields. As the team took the detour and visited other fields, farmers over there too complained about loss of crop due to drought. Some of them pleaded for compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre and fodder for their livestock before the team.
The team inspected a lake revival work being taken up under the VB G RAM G at Neelagunda village in Harapanahalli taluk. The team interacted with the workers over there and also received representations from them. Later, the team also visited a field down the lake, where the crop was in good condition. They interacted with the farmer over there.
They also interacted with farmers who had grown tomato and ragi and also inspected a field with withered maize crop at Nandibevur. They further inspected a borewell that was taken on rent.
Farmers in Bagalkot seek proper relief as drought ravages cropsThey also visited a field with sunflower crop and obtained details with regard to whether the crop was rain-fed or irrigated, its pattern and such.
At Chigateri village, they interacted with farmers, while there was a brief spell of rain. Later, they left for Kudligi.
Before their visit to Myduru, in Ittigi of Huvinahadagali, they inspected dried onion and maize fields.
State Onion Growers' Association president Uttangi Siddesh told the team that about 50 farmers have decided to donate cheques of Rs 2,600 back to the government, which has announced a relief of Rs 2,500.
The team sought details from the district officials at Kudligi guest house before leaving for Bengaluru.
The Central drought study team made an unexpected visit to a striking sunflower field located near drought-affected fields in Maidur Harapanahalli taluk.