Heavy rain damages horticulture crops in Chamarajanagar district

Mysuru: Heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms that lashed various parts of Chamarajanagar district last week resulted in damage to horticulture crops in over 342 hectares.Banana growers were the worst hit by the unseasonal rainfall. Vegetable growers cultivating crops such as tomatoes, beans, sambar onions, and small onions also suffered significant losses.On the intervening night of March 17, heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds swept through the district. While the unseasonal showers helped improve vegetation, green cover, and groundwater levels, and benefitted certain standing crops like sugarcane, jowar, maize, and coconut, they caused extensive damage to banana plantations and vegetable crops. Small and marginal farmers were the worst affected.Turmeric growers were also hit, as heavy rain destroyed turmeric that had been spread out for drying after harvest.Following instructions from the district administration, joint surveys were conducted in rain-hit areas by officials from the agriculture, horticulture, and revenue departments. The teams assessed the damage and recommended compensation as per the norms of the National and State Disaster Relief Fund. As per the guidelines, farmers will receive Rs 17,000 per hectare for horticulture crop loss.Chamarajanagar deputy director of horticulture Shivaprasad said that initial reports of the joint survey indicated horticulture crop losses over 342 hectares. Once the revenue department officials complete uploading detailed crop loss data, the compensation amount will be credited directly to the bank accounts of affected farmers as per govt guidelines, he said.Stressing the need for immediate relief, Badgalapura Nagaraj, vice-president of State Sugarcane Growers' Association, Chamarajanagar district, said the state govt must urgently come to the aid of small and marginal farmers affected by the unseasonal rains.