Karnataka is likely to fall short of its foodgrain production target for 2016-17 by a massive 36 per cent owing to drought, according to an assessment by the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission (KAPC).
The State had set a target of achieving production of nearly 135 lakh tonnes for 2016-17. But drought, said to be among the worst in 40 years, had affected production of various crops, states KAPC’s report ‘Perspective and Forecasting’.
Drought and floods
The situation has arisen as crops on about 48 per cent of farmland were affected mainly owing to drought and floods in certain areas, the report says.
The production of staple cereal crops has taken a serious hit, as the State is likely to witness a whopping 38 per cent shortfall in their production compared to the target. As against the target of 120.87 lakh tonnes, the State may see actual production of only 74.39 lakh tonnes with respect to cereals.
Among cereals, jowar, which is the staple diet of north Karnataka, is worst hit as production is expected to fall below the target by 63 per cent. Ragi, the staple crop of old Mysuru region, too is likely to fall below target by 58 per cent.
The actual production of paddy and maize are expected to see a shortfall of 29 and 34 per cent respectively.
But, there is an aberration as the production of toor dal and greengram is expected to surpass the target. Toor dal production is likely to touch 7.1 lakh tonne as against the actual target of 5.53 lakh tonnes.
Similarly, greengram production is expected to be around 1.28 lakh tonnes, which is marginally higher than its production target of 1.19 lakh tonnes, the report says.
Inadequate relief
KAPC took exception to the Centre granting only ₹1,782 crore as relief towards crop losses, while maintaining that the State should have received a minimum of ₹2,635 crore as per norms as the loss stood around ₹17,369 crore.
