Kalaburagi: A severe monsoon rainfall deficit has stunted the growth of green gram and black gram crops in parts of the Kalaburagi region, forcing farmers to consider uprooting the crops and sowing tur as an alternative. The spectre of drought looms large over the region, with several crops failing and water storage levels declining.Crops such as green gram, black gram, soybean and cotton have suffered extensive damage. Alternatives such as red gram, sunflower and maize can be sown, provided the region receives adequate rainfall.During the kharif season, green gram was sown on 34,753 hectares against the target of 54,000 hectares, achieving 64% coverage. Black gram sowing covered 12,631 hectares against the target of 25,000 hectares. Soybean was sown on 15,040 hectares out of the targeted 23,000 hectares, achieving 65% coverage. Tur was sown on 2 lakh hectares against the target of 6.3 lakh hectares, achieving only 33% coverage.Rainfall remained significantly below normal. Against the normal rainfall of 107mm for June, the district received only 69mm, a deficit of 36%. In July, against the normal rainfall of 56.5mm, only 8.8mm was recorded, resulting in an 84% deficit. During the past week, just 2.2mm of rainfall was recorded against the normal 27mm. Overall, the district received 67mm of rainfall against the normal 167mm, reflecting a deficit of nearly 60%.As many as 31 tanks in the district have dried up, while five are at half capacity. Another 92 tanks hold only about 30% of their capacity, and 42 tanks hold between 30% and 50%. The Bhima Lift Irrigation Project is currently at just 7% capacity.The district has 170 tanks under the minor irrigation scheme across various taluks—Afzalpur (12), Aland (36), Chincholi (21), Chittapur (12), Jewargi (6), Kalagi (4), Kalaburagi (12), Kamalapur (29), Sedam (34), Shahabad (1) and Yadrami (3).Of the 31 dried-up tanks, eight are in Afzalpur, nine in Aland, two in Chincholi, one in Chittapur, three in Kalaburagi, seven in Kamalapur and one in Sedam taluk.Current water storage levels stand at 56.5% in Amarja, 66.9% in Bennethora, 7.2% in the Bhima Lift Irrigation Project, 33.4% in Chandrampalli, 57.2% in Gandori Nala and 75.4% in Lower Mullamari. With inflows into these reservoirs having ceased, water levels continue to decline.Speaking to TOI, Kalaburagi joint director of agriculture Samad Patel said that the condition of green gram, black gram, cotton and pearl millet crops had become critical due to the prolonged lack of rainfall. Farmers have been informed about alternative cropping plans. He added that 3.7 lakh farmers with farmer IDs (FIDs) are eligible for crop insurance. The department has set a target of enrolling over 3.5 lakh farmers this season, of which 2.1 lakh have already been registered.
