Dharwad: Though fields across Dharwad district appear lush and green, erratic and inadequate rainfall has severely affected crop growth and yields, minister Santosh Lad said, assuring farmers that the govt would ensure all eligible relief reaches them.Of the district’s 2.9 lakh hectares of cultivable land, sowing has been completed on over 2.80 lakh hectares. Green gram and black gram account for more than 90,000 hectares, while maize has been sown on over 40,000 hectares. Soybean, cotton, groundnut, sugarcane, onion and horticultural crops have also been impacted by uneven rainfall.Lad inspected crops in Harobelavadi village of Dharwad taluk and Shirur, Shirakol, Morab and Tarlapur villages in Navalgund taluk. He said the visits, being carried out across all taluks on chief minister Siddaramaiah’s directions, aim to assess the actual ground situation.“Fields may look green, but crop growth has been poor. Rainfall failed during critical crop-growth stages, reducing yields and causing losses,” Lad said. He added that even areas receiving adequate rain did not benefit because it was not timely or evenly distributed.Reports based on consultations with farmers, farmer leaders and agricultural experts will be submitted to the govt along with suggestions from MLAs and farmer representatives, he said.Lad said farmers would be considered for crop insurance and other relief under govt and insurance schemes. However, drought declaration would depend on Central guidelines and technical criteria. He stressed that drought assessment should consider not only total rainfall but also whether rain was received during crucial crop-growth stages.Navalgund MLA NH Konaraddi said green gram and cotton crops appeared healthy but were yielding poorly, and urged the govt to relax relief norms and address delays in crop insurance payouts. He said representations would be submitted to Union minister and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi and the chief minister.
