Agriculture and horticulture crops spanning approximately 1.05 lakh hectares suffered damage due to heavy rainfall in Karnataka since October 1. Preliminary assessments reveal that crops over 74,994 hectares and horticultural crops across 30,941 hectares have been adversely affected. The state has experienced substantial crop loss, impacting various regions and commodities differently.
In Gadag, notable for its onion and chili production, farmers faced significant losses. Heavy rainfall damaged crops extensively, with only a fraction of the planned sowing area being utilized. The region's renowned Abbigeri onions, typically marketed across states through the Yeshwantpur APMC, encountered a tough season, pushing farmers to purchase alternatives at elevated prices.
Hassan district reported the destruction of ginger, banana, and vegetable crops. The most affected crops were in Holenarasipur taluk, with other areas also reporting substantial damage. Standing crops on thousands of hectares were lost to the rains, impacting the livelihoods of local farmers.
Vijayapura's grape growers faced challenges due to the weather, affecting over 15,000 hectares of grape farming in the region and neighboring districts. The absence of grapes from the Fasal Bima Crop Insurance Scheme further compounded the growers' woes, as they navigated the impacts of cloudy and moist conditions on their crops.
Unseasonal rainfall in Uttara Kannada led to significant damage to the pineapple crop around Banavasi, with reports of reduced fruit weight and delayed flowering. Pineapple cultivation, covering at least 250 hectares, was severely impacted.
Chitradurga's onion growers also suffered due to the rains, with large quantities of the crop decaying post-harvest.
Source: Indian Express