DAVANGERE: A drought review team from the Union Government headed by Agriculture Department joint secretary Neeraja Adidam visited a maize field where the crop had dried up and perished at Bidarakere village in Jagalur taluk on Friday.
The team was expected to visit on Saturday, but had a sudden change in plans, and announced they will visit Bidarakere and Donehalli villages in Jagalur taluk, which were the worst-hit due to drought.
A team of officials headed by tahsildar Sridhar and deputy director for agriculture Spurthi, waited near Isamudra village, which borders Jagalur taluk from 3.30 pm, to welcome the team. Even farmers assembled near the field at 4 pm. However, the team which left Haveri at 5 pm, came to Davangere and then left for Bidarakere village. Farmers,journalists and MLA Rajesh H P waited for nearly one-and-a-half hours for the team.
The team visited a dried-up maize field at about 6.35 pm. They took the help of TV cameras to see the situation.
They had a short discussion with some farmers and left the place by 6.50 pm. Altogether, they spent just 15 minutes at the field. After this they left for Donehalli village, where they were shown onion crops which were destroyed. The team consisted of Agriculture Department Joint Secretary Neeraja Adidam, Dr Ashok Gupta assistant commissioner, Animal Husbandry Department and S C Meena, joint director Finance Department.