Floods leave bitter taste among sugarcane farmers

Karnataka is facing a severe shortage of sugarcane seedlings following the devastation of the sugarcane crop in northern Karnataka in the recent floods. The shortage of seedlings is affecting the replanting efforts.

Sugarcane in over 59,000 hectares has been severely damaged, affecting farmers in Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot, the three main sugarcane growing areas in the state, a senior official in the department of industries and commerce said.

According to the initial estimates by the agriculture and revenue officials, the loss is valued over Rs 477 crore in these districts. The worst affected is Belgaum district, which is the biggest sugarcane growing area. The total crop loss in the state is around Rs 844 crore.

While sugar factories may overcome the shortage by sourcing sugarcane from the neighbouring districts and states this crushing season, the farmers, who are dependent on a particular variety of seedling, is worse. Farmers in north Karnataka use a high-yielding variety, which is not suitable for cultivation in other parts of the state. Hence, they are unable to procure the seedlings from the south (Cauvery basin), the official said.

The farmers in northern districts usually follow a three bud planting practice. "As there is a shortage of buds we are unable to supply the adequate quantity of buds and have advised the farmers to plant only the one variety this year," the official said. The total requirement will be for about 7.5 tonnes per hectare if the three-bud variety is planted.

"The government is making efforts to procure seedlings from even Maharashtra, where a similar variety is grown," she said. Karnataka chief minister N Dharam Singh is leading an all party delegation to meet the Prime Minister on Thursday (September 1) to appraise him of the damage to the sugarcane crop in the recent floods in north Karnataka.

According to official sources, the state government is expected to demand that the Centre announce a relief package for flood-affected farmers in north Karnataka, particularly sugarcane growers on the lines of Tsunami relief package.

Karnataka minister for agriculture K Srinivasa Gowda last week announced a state government compensation of Rs 2,000 per acre in dryland areas, Rs 5,000 in irrigated areas and Rs 8,000 for perennial crops under the Calamity Relief Fund norms.

However, if the Centre announces a compensation package based on the Tsunami relief model, sugarcane farmers in the state will get Rs 15,000 per acre.

It is understood that the state government is waiting for the government of Maharashtra to announce its relief package for growers, and Karnataka will devise its package on those lines.