Gulbarga: While the rest of the state may have received copious rain, the monsoon has been poor over Hyderabad Karnatak and farmers here are now demanding that the six districts be declared drought- hit.
The failure of the South-West Monsoon in the region has had a disastrous effect on the kharif crop and farmers are now worried about the delay in sowing of the rabi crop could spell further doom. “The sowing of tur dal, which is the main rabi crop in the region, should have taken place in July, but has been delayed due to lack of rain. If there is no rain in the coming week or so, it cannot be sown at all,” said a senior officer of the agriculture department
In view of the grim situation, the Zilla Panchayats of both Gulbarga and Bidar have passed unanimous resolutions to urge the state government to declare their respective districts drought- hit.
The Zilla Panchayats of Yadgir, Raichur and Koppal, which are scheduled to meet sometime next week, are likely to follow suit, according to sources in the Regional Commissioner’s office.
Members cutting across party lines have urged the state government to announce a relief of Rs 10,000 per acre to farmers.
