Ballari: A farmer couple in Metri village of Kampli taluk has been carrying water in pots every day for the past two weeks to save their 2.5-acre cotton crop after the groundwater level in their borewell dropped sharply due to deficient monsoon rainfall.G Hanumesh and his wife Chandramma had taken the land on lease at Rs 16,000 per acre and sowed cotton about two months ago. The couple said they had already spent Rs 40,000 on crop maintenance before their borewell suddenly went dry. Since then, they have been fetching water in pots from the borewell of a neighbouring farmer, Manjanna, to irrigate the standing crop.They said the absence of rain in the coming days would make it difficult to sustain their livelihood, repay loans and pay the lease amount to the landowner. Farmers said delayed monsoon rains have led to a decline in groundwater levels in some borewells. While three-phase power is being supplied for seven hours a day, frequent interruptions, four to five times during the supply period, have affected irrigation, leaving crops without adequate water.With only about 20% of the sowing target achieved, farmers said the immediate priority is to protect the standing crop as prolonged dry conditions continue to threaten cultivation across the district.
