Post monsoon rainfall deficiency coupled with the fungal diseases are seen weighing on the tur (redgram) crop in Kalaburagi district, the key producing region in the South, raising concerns among a section of farmers in the area.
Farmers had expanded the area under tur in Karnataka to 15.94 lakh hectares (lh) this kharif cropping season — up from 13.64 lh. In Kalaburagi alone, the tur acreage stood at 6.27 lh (5.87 lh).
Karnataka Agriculture Department officials said Kalaburagi witnessed a rainfall deficit of 71 per cent during November, which is crucial time for flowering and pod formation in tur. Against a normal of 19.5 mm, the district received only 5.6 mm rains.
“The lack of soil moisture during the crucial stages of flowering and pod formation has impacted the crop in patches in the shallow soil regions of the district. Lack of adequate soil moisture has triggered fungal disease such as macrophomina and phytopthera root rot, which has led to drying up of the tur crop in patches in the shallow soil areas. A survey to assess the crop damage is in progress and it may take some to time to quantify the impact. However, the crop is intact in the traditional black soil belt,” an official said.
The vegetative growth in tur crop was good during the monsoon months on widespread rains. Scientists said the crop in areas bordering Telangana is relatively in better condition.
Basavaraj Ingin, President, Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association, said the rot disease is spreading gradually. Moreover, the tur crop had seen more vertical growth, which also was a concern this year as it would impact the yields, he said.
Sharanabasappa Mamshetty of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha said the crop on about 2 lakh hectares has been impacted and demanded that the State government should compensate farmers with a relief package of ₹25,000 per acre. Besides Kalaburagi, tur crop in neighbouring Vijayapura is also impacted in some areas.
