The floods and heavy rains have shattered the dreams of red gram growers in the district—which is known as the red gram bowl of South India— of a bumper harvest this year.
As per the preliminary estimates, standing red gram crops on more than 30,000 hectares has been completely damaged and this figure is likely to increase as the situation appears to be grim.
Official sources said that the final picture of crop loss would emerge only after the completion of the joint survey by the agriculture and revenue department officials. The survey is expected to last for at least one week.
Farmers, after three years of drought, were hoping to get a good crop this year. The rain gods were kind initially with some good rains at the time of sowing and later during the growth of the crop.
Prior to last week’s havoc, red gram crop had reached the flowering stage in many villages and the branching to hold more number of pods was also very good.
Sedam, Chitapur and Kalaburagi are the worst affected taluks.
Meanwhile, farmers are worried that overcast weather conditions would result in pest attack causing further damage. However, officials of the Agriculture Department say that there is some hope left even now for the red gram growers of the district.
According to them, the crops can be saved if the rains stop completely and there is sunshine for a long duration this week.
