Karnataka - Hassan   

Sakleshpur farmers seek compensation for crop loss

Staff Correspondent

Crops valued at Rs. 150 crore estimated to have been damaged in heavy rain in Malnad region

HASSAN: Farmers in Sakleshpur taluk of the district are facing problems as the torrential rain that lashed Malnad region during this monsoon has damaged crops including coffee, cardamom, pepper and ginger.

They are demanding compensation for crop loss and urging the Government to bring plantation crops under the crop insurance scheme.

According to an estimate by growers, crops worth Rs. 150 crore have been lost due to excess rain. They took presspersons to various plantations in the taluk on Thursday to show them the adverse impact of the heavy rain in the region.

It was found that crops, including coffee, cardamom, pepper and ginger have been damaged to a larger extent in Hanbal, Hettur and Yesalur areas. Later, they told presspersons that there had been an increase in moisture level owing to excessive rain.

Coffee had been affected to the extent of 90 per cent and cardamom, pepper and ginger, which would bloom only in moderate climate, wilted due to heavy downpour.

It was the responsibility of the Government to safeguard the interests of growers by providing compensation. It was possible to instil confidence among the frustrated farmers, only by including plantations crops in the crop insurance scheme, they added.

Complaints

They alleged that, despite appealing to the local legislator, district in-charge Minister and the Chief Minister, who visited the district recently, nothing had been done. Dayanad, a farmers' leader and president of the district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said that the banks were pestering growers over repayment of debts.

The Government should lend a helping hand or else farmers might be forced to end their lives as in the case of Vidarbha in Maharashtra, he said.

The area received 175 inches of rainfall during the previous monsoon, and 171 inches during this season.

Mr. Dayanand said that the Government should declare areas receiving more than 110 inches of rainfall as "rain affected."

"If the Government is not prepared for this, let it take over our plantations and pay compensation," he said.

The only way to save the growers from the crisis was to waive their loans in commercial and cooperative banks.

The Chief Minister should visit Sakleshpur to understand the real plight of the growers, he said.

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