Farmers in Vijayapura district who had lost their crops in the kharif season and had pinned their hopes on the rabi season are a disappointed lot now.
With rabi crops almost withered owing to scanty rain and lack of moisture in the soil, farmers are hoping for relief either from the government or in the form of crop insurance.
Owing to deficient rainfall in the kharif season, the government declared all the five taluks of the district as drought-hit.
According to the Department of Agriculture, it had set a target of cultivating rabi crops on 6.08 lakh hectares of land, but farmers have cultivated only on 4.31 lakh hectare as they were not hopeful of any rain in the season too.
Even those farmers who have cultivated crops, are not expecting any yield owing to dry conditions. “No rain and no moisture, how can one expect an yield in such adverse conditions. The hostile weather has blown away all hopes of farmers this year,” said Nabisab Nidoni, a farmer from Baluti village in Basavanabagewadi taluk.
He said that in the kharif season, many farmers removed their standing crops when they realised that they will not get any yield. “Farmers are facing a similar situation in this season too,” he said.
Meanwhile, the department has been emphasising the need for having crop insurance and urging farmers to apply for the insurance as they have a higher chance of getting some relief.
The officials believe that since Vijayapura has not received any rain and as the government has declared the district drought-hit, there is a likelihood of farmers getting higher claims if they opt for an insurance.
The officials said the government has set a target of bringing 43,000 farmers in the district under the insurance cover. They feel that the target would be surpassed with many farmers volunteering to apply for insurance.
Last date
The last date for applying for crop insurance for Bengal gram, which is a major rabi crop, is December 31. Farmers can apply for the insurance at any nationalised bank where they have their accounts.
The district administration has held meetings with banks on giving more publicity for crop insurance.
