Accurate crop-loss survey ordered in drought-hit Mysuru
Urban Development Minister and Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah, on Friday, directed officials to conduct an accurate survey of crop losses caused by
Urban Development Minister and Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah, on Friday, directed officials to conduct an accurate survey of crop losses caused by deficient rainfall. Visiting drought-hit villages, including Kempanahalli in Hunsur taluk, the Minister said prolonged rainfall deficiency has severely affected agricultural production across the State. In Hunsur taluk alone, tobacco cultivated over nearly 21,000 hectares has suffered extensive damage, with around 2,000 hectares failing to attain expected growth due to inadequate rainfall. He observed that maize crops have been severely affected by white grub infestation, a problem aggravated by the continuous cultivation of the same crop, leading to soil degradation. While losses caused by crop diseases are not covered under Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, the government would discuss possible compensation for maize and other affected crops, as well as support price or relief measures for ragi growers, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar before taking a decision.
Yathindra said the government had received representations regarding pending payments for ragi procured from farmers and assured that the issue would be taken up with senior officials to ensure early release of dues. Emphasising that compensation under existing NDRF guidelines is limited to rain-fed crop losses, he instructed Agriculture and Revenue Department officials to complete the crop-loss assessment expeditiously and submit a realistic report. Drinking water on priority Presiding over a review meeting with taluk-level officials at the Hunsur Taluk Panchayat, the Minister directed the administration to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply to villages facing acute scarcity. He instructed officials to identify villages facing water shortage and immediately initiate administrative and technical measures to drill new borewells. Where drilling is not feasible, private borewells should be hired temporarily, while villages without viable borewell options should be supplied with water daily through tankers, the Minister said.
Warning officials against negligence in drinking water supply and drought relief, Dr. Yathindra said Panchayat Development Officers and engineering staff must remain in the field and closely monitor the situation so that no village faces a water crisis. K. Harish Gowda, Hunsur MLA, said that against a sowing target of 5,000 hectares, only 1,050 hectares had been cultivated owing to poor rainfall. Rainfall during April, May, and June was 45% to 85% below normal, resulting in more than a 50% decline in agricultural productivity. He said crops such as field beans and avare had suffered extensive damage due to a prolonged dry spell of nearly 90 to 100 days. Referring to the sharp decline in tobacco prices during the previous auction season, when prices fell to ₹90–₹130 per kg, he urged the government to provide compensation or support to affected tobacco growers.
The BriefWire