‘Tur Bowl of Karnataka’ on the boil as dry spell destroys red gram crop

According to officials in the Agriculture Department and scientists at Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Kalaburagi, the drying of the crops is a direct result of insufficient rainfall. As per the data, the region received about 5 mm of rainfall in November, compared to the normal 20 mm, translating to a 70% deficit at a critical stage of the crop’s growth.

Mallinath Hullur, a 31-year-old farmer from Hawanur village in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district in Karnataka, was delighted to see the healthy red gram crop he had cultivated on six acres with hope and dedication. He had invested ₹1,00,000, which included borrowing from local moneylenders at a high rate of interest, in the crop. Mallinath had hoped for a yield of 30 quintals worth ₹3,50,000, which he planned to use to pay off both his old and new debts. His efforts appeared to be paying off as the crop grew healthy, fueling his dreams of becoming debt-free.

However, just as the crop reached its flowering and pod-setting stage, disaster struck. Approximately 20 days ago, the leaves began to wither due to a lack of moisture in the soil. Mallinath visited his field daily, helplessly watching the plants become dry and turn yellow. Within a week, his entire six-acre red gram crop was devastated. The once-hopeful farmer is now crushed, and his dreams of financial recovery have been shattered.

He went into depression. His health deteriorated. He, however, recovered to an extent after a week.

“The fresh loans taken for this crop have only added to my mounting pile of debt,” Mallinath told The Hindu on December 1, his voice filled with despair. “I nurtured the crop with care. The crop was healthy. I expected a good yield. I thought I would repay all my loans and be free of debt. But now, my situation is worse than ever.”

Compounding his struggles, Mallinath could not avail of crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), as the land is in the name of his late grandfather. Although the land title was transferred recently, the registration deadline had already passed.

Mallinath’s plight is not unique. In his village alone, hundreds of farmers are facing similar hardship. Around 300 acres of red gram crop has been completely destroyed. The damage is widespread across Kalaburagi district, known as the ‘Tur Bowl of Karnataka’.

Farmers’ leader Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, associated with the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, claims that standing red gram crop on approximately 2 lakh hectares has been ruined in the district.