MYSURU: After two years, Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir is brimming, with incessant rain lashing Kodagu district and Wayanad region in the Kabini catchment area, bringing cheer to the people who were badly affected by severe drought and a harsh summer. But the rain and brimming reservoirs have not enthused farmers to return to their fields.
The impact of last year’s severe drought and the shadow of the ongoing water tussle with Tamil Nadu has sapped the enthusiasm of farmers in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka. Though the Cauvery, the lifeline of South Karnataka, is in full flow and the KRS dam is likely to fill up anytime, there are no celebrations among the farming community as there is still uncertainty on water release and the crop pattern.
A field visit to the Cauvery basin showcased the plight of farmers who have so far not even prepared their land for sowing. Though many tried to grow paddy and sugarcane earlier this year, hoping the government would release water during the Lok Sabha elections to keep the electorate (farmers) in good humour, their hopes were shattered as the government took a tough call and did not even supply water to meet their drinking water needs.
Sidde Gowda, a farmer of Sabbanakuppe, is in no mood to take a risk as he has already lost his sugarcane crop on three acres. “How can I borrow or invest any more when the government did not give water for standing crops last year, though there was sufficient water in the reservoir,” he asked.
Sidde Gowda says it would be a double investment for him, as he would have to spend on removing the dried-up cane crop and plough his fields again to prepare for paddy transplantation. What is the guarantee that the authorities will supply water for the paddy crop, is the question bothering him.
Thammanachari of K Shettahalli is not enthused by a brimming reservoir and is awaiting an official announcement by the Irrigation Consultative Committee. “We did not cultivate crops during the previous year as the irrigation department expressed its inability to give water for irrigation. I started farming activities with the hope that they may supply water for at least one crop."
The farmers admit that the delayed monsoon added to their woes, and Tamil Nadu approached the Central Water Management Authority and apex court for the release of its share of water on a daily basis. To add to the farmers’ anguish, the Irrigation Consultative Committee that met last week decided to release water to fill tanks in the achukat, and will take a decision on supplying water to crops in the ‘on and off’ system that further spiked their hopes.
Though Agriculture Minister NM Chaluvarayaswamy said water will be supplied for irrigation in KRS achukat for kharif crops, the administration has so far played it safe by not convening the Irrigation Consultative Committee and meeting with stakeholders in the command area to offer a clear picture of water release, crop patterns and other issues, which is keeping farmers on their toes.
Shivanna, a farmer from Keragodu, said farmers suffered losses in crores during the last season as they lost paddy and sugarcane crops because the government did not supply water for irrigation when the KRS water level was 92ft as against 124.8ft. The government of the day was more focused on meeting the CWMA to meet Tamil Nadu’s demand for water than on meeting local farmers’ requirements.
No resources
Agricultural activities have taken a back seat in Mandya, known as the Sugar Bowl, and for paddy cultivation as most of them have no resources to purchase seeds and fertilizers due to the losses they suffered last year due to severe drought. Banks are reluctant to offer fresh loans to farmers as they have huge outstanding loan dues.
Krishna, a sugarcane grower, said the five sugar factories that resumed crushing need 30,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day. He said it is difficult to meet their requirements as sugarcane cultivation has come down from 45,000 hectares to 30,000 hectares.
The increase in the cost of cultivation, labour and agriculture inputs, and fall in yield have rubbed salt on the wounds of farmers already hit by the drought. He observed that private moneylenders are not in the mood to give them loans as they know the farmers are unwilling to take up farming, and have no repayment capacity.
However, Krishna felt that farming activities may pick up in the district once sugar factories start crushing, making payments and the Irrigation Consultative Committee assures farmers of water for paddy cultivation, instead of advising the farmers to grow semi-dry crops.
The farmers feel that sugarcane prices may shoot up due to shortage of cane in the Cauvery basin, and jaggery units are buying at competitive levels, paying Rs2800 per tonne.
Agriculture department authorities admit that Mandya district, that grows paddy on 65,000 hectares, had registered paddy cultivation on 35,000 hectares and most of them suffered losses and sugarcane cultivation took a beating.
The sudden copious rain over the past few days that raised the reservoir level from 106ft to 120ft has restored the life and vigour of Cauvery, and made farmers reap the benefit of nature’s benevolence and start agricultural activities on 15 per cent of the area.
Tanks fill up
Kabini reservoir is brimming and has catered more to Tamil Nadu’s requirement than to the farmers of the region. The demand for Kabini’s second stage has not taken off, which would expand the irrigated area in parts of Yalandur, Kollegal, Chamarajanagar and Gundlupet taluks. Though 38 tanks are filled under the tank filling project, there is a demand to fill more tanks that would reach the underground water table and increase the irrigated area. The proposal to link Chikkahole-Suvaranavathi reservoirs and fill up a majority of tanks in drought-hit Chamarajanagar district would change the topography and strengthen agro-economy in the region.
TRACING WATER FLOW
CWRC ordered Karnataka to release 20tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu, at the rate of 1tmcft per day till the end of July
Karnataka calls all-party meeting, decides to release 8000 cusecs per day
TN holds all-party meeting, hints of approaching SC if its quota is not released
In a normal year, Karnataka has to release 9.4tmcft of water in June and 31.24 tmcft in July, totalling 40.43 tmcft
Kabini brims due to copious rain over Wayanad
Karnataka releases 70,000 cusecs from Kabini
KRS level shoots up from 108ft to 119ft in 4-5 days
Around 5tmcft of water inflow recorded into KRS
Harangi and Hemavathi reservoirs are full
Discharge of 17,000 cusecs from Harangi, 11,000 cusecs from Hemavathi increases inflow into KRS
