Members of a farm family that sold bullocks to clear debts are now forced to plough their fields themselves in Marganakoppa in Bailhongal taluk.
Brothers Basavanneppa and Manjunath Hadgal are using the plough to break bricks and prepare the soil for cultivation.
Their children Rudrappa and Shivashankar are assisting them.
While Rudrappa holds the plough plank steadily, Shivashankar, who is yet to turn 18, pulls the plough, which earlier used to be done by their bullocks.
“We sold our bullocks to clear our dues and also because we could no longer care for them. We had no money for fodder or to build a shed,” Manjunath Hadgal, told The Hindu.
The brothers had no money to hire cattle. They decided to ask their children to do the work the bullocks were being used for before.
The family owns four acres of land. It drilled four borewells but these failed and the debt kept increasing, going up to ₹ 5 lakh. It could not repay the debts in time. It suffered losses during the four-year drought period and sold two bullocks in December last.
“We are cultivating on three acres now as the paddy crop is standing on one acre,” Mr. Manjunath said.
A senior agriculture department officer said that pulling the plough was a common practice among several farmers as they feel they can manoeuvre it easily. Guiding bullocks on the tracks, especially in small holdings, is a challenge. Also, the soil is wet after the rain and the small stones could damage the hooves of the cattle. That is why some farmers pull their ploughs themselves.
But in this case, poverty and not convenience, has forced this family not to use bullocks. It is unfortunate, he said.
V.R. Reddy, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that officers would visit the farmer and a detailed report will be sent to the government about it. “All benefits that can be given to the family will be provided,” he said.
