BELLARY: Chilli growers in Bellary taluk, who were expecting a bumper crop, have now been a disappointed lot. Chilli plants have started drying up following pest attack.

The pest attack has affected several acres of land around Shankarbanda village, Tirumal Nagar, Tirumal Nagar camp, Rupanagudi Road, Siddamanahalli and several villages around Kurgodu in the taluk. Chilli is being grown on around 10,000 acres in the district, most of it in Bellary taluk, followed by Sandur.

Till a fortnight ago, the plants were lush green with plenty of chillies and farmers were optimistic of a good yield.

Some of them had even commenced picking.

However, the crop started withering. "As against the expected yield of over 25 quintals an acre of some varieties , we are not sure of even getting more then five quintals because of the pest attack," Raja, a farmer in Vigneshwar camp, said.

A chilli grower, on an average, incurs an expenditure ranging from Rs. 30,000 to 50,000 an acre, he said.

The yield of the Byadagi variety is likely to be less than five quintals and in some areas the yield may not go beyond a quintal as most plants are on the verge of withering.

Sources in the Horticultural Department told The Hindu that the crop was affected by bacteria, mainly owing to excessive moisture in the fields.

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