Published 06:47 IST, November 13th 2019
Karnataka: Recurrent rainfall leaves farmers in a lurch as crops get infected
Farmers of Karnataka's Kalaburagi said that the yield of the crop has been severely affected due to unseasonal weather followed by breakout of fungal infection
Impaired by the recurring change in weather and heavy rainfall which was followed by a breakout of fungal infection, the Toor Dal (Pigeon pea) crop in Karnataka's Kalaburagi offers little hope to the farmers of the district this year. Farmers said the yield of the crop has been severely affected due to unseasonal weather and excessive rainfall particularly in the month of November. Heavy rains had lashed out in parts of Karnataka in the month of October and November. A local farmer, Umesh Kumar who cultivated Toor Dal in almost 9 acres of his farmland told ANI that the plants have dried up from the roots and the pulses have turned black.
"I have planted it in 9 acres of land but due to heavy rainfall the crop is almost ruined. It has turned black. Also, there is heavy dew in the morning causing damage to the crop. The plants are desiccating from the roots, the buds are falling and farmers are worried as the yield is expected to be very low this year," said Kumar.
A scientist at Kalaburagi Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Zaheer Ahmed said thatToor Dal is affected due to the unseasonal weather and for one week there was full cloudy weather, for another week there was rain and sunlight another week.
"Last week, heavy precipitation and dew formation have adversely affected buds at the flowering stage. Farmers told that outbreak of the leaf spot disease and fungal infection is expected to lead to huge loss of the crop," he added.
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(With Inputs from ANI)
Updated 09:20 IST, November 13th 2019