Rain puts paid to Gulbarga farmers’ hopes of a rich harvest

Crops lost in Gulbarga and Chittapur taluks owing to waterlogging of fields

Red, green and black gram crops have been destroyed in Gulbarga and Chittapur taluks owing to waterlogging of fields.

For farmers who have taken up cultivation of green and black gram in Gulbarga district, it has been a case of ‘so near, yet so far’ this year. Rainfall during the last week of August and in September has put paid to farmers’ hopes of reaping a rich harvest.

Official sources said that while around 50 per cent of the farmers had harvested green gram sown in 17,741 hectares, the remaining farmers had cut the crop and kept in the field to dry. However, a portion of the crop was lost owing to heavy rain, while the remaining portion was damaged. Sources added that farmers who had sown black gram in 30,000 hectares had been hoping for a bumper crop before the rain dampened their hopes. Waterlogging in fields had delayed harvesting; any further delay would result in severe reduction of yield.

According to preliminary reports reaching the district headquarters here, green gram sown in 420 hectares in Gulbarga and Chittapur taluks was lost owing to waterlogging of the fields, and black gram in nearly 500 hectares of land in the two taluks was lost. Red gram sown in 1,275 hectares of land in the two taluks was also lost owing to waterlogging.

Statistics

The district has, so far, recorded 87.84 per cent rainfall of the average rainfall in September. As against the average rainfall of 200.14 mm, the district has recorded rainfall of 174.13 mm.

As against the average rainfall of 648.92 mm during the kharif season (June to September), the district has, so far, recorded rainfall of 577.71 mm.

The Revenue and Agriculture departments have taken up a joint survey of crop loss.