Farmers are a disappointed lot in Ballari district. For, this is for the second year in succession that they are unable to get a good kharif crop due to the failure of follow-up rain, especially in August and September.
Around 80 per cent of the standing crop cultivated in rain-fed areas in Ballari district have been severely affected.
As against the targeted area of 2.09 lakh hectares in the rain-fed area for the current kharif season, sowing had been completed in 2.05 lakh hectares, of which standing crop in 1.86 lakh hectares has been affected. The Agricultural Department, which has conducted a preliminary survey, has estimated a yield loss of 33 per cent mainly due to the failure of rain in August and September when the crops were in a crucial stage — flowering and grain formation. According to the rainfall data, the district recorded 53 per cent deficit rain between September 1 and 21. During August, the district received 54 per cent deficit rainfall.
For September, the district received a normal average rainfall of 78.6 mm against which the actual average rainfall received was 36.8 mm recording a deficit of 53 per cent. Kudligi taluk was the worst affected where crops in 76,880 hectares have been severely affected followed by Hagari Bommanahalli (40,453 ha), Hadagali (39,550 ha), Sandur (15,565 ha), Hosapete (9.045 ha) and Ballari (5,048 ha).
Maize in 81,125 ha, groundnut in 45,702 ha, bajra in 14,379 ha, tur in 13,476 ha, cotton in 6,676 ha, sunflower in 6,511 ha are among the major crops that have been affected.“Even if it rains now, it would not be of any use for the standing crop to recover and increase the yield. If it rains, it may help vegetative growth that could be used as fodder,” was all Fakirappa, a farmer in Sandur taluk, could say.
