Rainfall deficit leaves maize and ragi farmers in Shivamogga facing heavy losses
A 38% monsoon rainfall deficit has damaged maize and ragi crops in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, farmers and officials said. Poor grain formation has left growers expecting little or no return, while the Agriculture Department is conducting surveys to assess losses across drought-declared taluks.
A severe rainfall deficit has left maize and ragi farmers in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district facing substantial crop losses, with many growers reporting poor plant development and little or no grain formation. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre recorded 959 millimetres of rain in the Malnad region during the southwest monsoon from June 1 to September 29, against a normal 1,550 millimetres. That represents a deficit of 38 per cent.
September rainfall was 57 millimetres, compared with a normal 191 millimetres. Farmers said the district had recorded deficient rainfall every month since June. Haleshappa, a grower near Ayanur, said it had been more than a month since the area received rain and that farmers were not recovering even a small share of their costs.
A maize farmer spends about ₹20,000 an acre on seed and fertiliser, according to the report. Omkarappa and his brother Gudadappa said they spent ₹60,000 cultivating three acres at Kempinakoppa, but expected no return after plants turned brown during the heat. Farmers said rain failed at the critical stage of corn formation.
Ragi growers have faced similar problems, with poor grain formation raising fears that some households will not produce enough for their own needs in the coming year. They also complained that Revenue Department officials had not yet visited their fields to assess the damage. Karnataka has declared drought in five taluks: Shivamogga, Bhadravati, Sorab, Shikaripur and Tirthahalli.
Shivamogga and Bhadravati have been particularly badly affected. M. Kiran Kumar, the district’s Joint Director of Agriculture, said a ground-truthing survey was under way in sample areas.
A joint assessment by the Agriculture, Horticulture and Revenue departments will examine losses to maize, ragi, paddy and other crops.
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