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Karnataka, India

Banana yield decline in Belagavi district due to drought and power shortages

Banana cultivation in Belagavi, India, is experiencing a significant decrease in yields this year, attributed to water scarcity and ongoing drought conditions. The situation is further aggravated by frequent power outages, adversely affecting crop yields and causing distress among farmers. The government's restrictions on river water usage for irrigation and the directive to HESCOM for limiting electricity supply to agricultural pump sets to one hour daily, despite farmer requests for six hours, exacerbates the challenges faced. The inability to utilize bore well water adds to the farmers' struggles.

In Belagavi district, banana is cultivated over 773 hectares, with Yaragatti being the largest cultivation area at 330 hectares. The district is facing severe power cuts, impacting not just banana but also other crops like betel leaves, sugarcane, and vegetables, all suffering due to the compounded effect of drought and electricity shortages. According to a banana grower from Umarani, yields can range from 30 to 150 tons per hectare depending on the variety and environmental conditions. Mahantesh Murgod, the deputy director of the Horticulture Department, emphasized the importance of prioritizing drinking water and suggested that farmers adopt drip irrigation and utilize solar pump sets, which are supported by government subsidies.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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