Vijayapura: The grape growers of the district are in dismay following the untimely rains that has extensively damaged the standing crop.
The members of Karnataka State Grape Growers’ Association (KSGGA) are now seeking the help of the government as a significant portion of the crop has been damaged due to vagaries of nature. Association President, Dr. K. H. Mumbareddy said that the untimely rain and cold weather has affected up to 70 percent of the grape crop in the region. “Mumbareddy, who is also a grape grower, said that the grape growers invested lakhs of rupees this season but all went in vain as poor climate resulted in the crop loss. It is for the third consecutive year that the farmers are suffering loss due to untimely rainfall. This has worsened the life of grape growers. A team consisting of scientists and experts from the University of Horticultural Sciences took stock of the situation of the grape crop and submitted a report to the government. The government should announce a special package in the upcoming winter session for grape growers,” he said.
“As per the norms, the State Government provides a meagre amount of Rs. 7,200 per acre, which won’t even meet the expenses of fertilisers and chemicals for a season. The State Government should announce at least Rs. 50,000 per acre to the grape growers as compensation,” he appealed.
Prakash Gani, member of KSGGA said that the government should regulate crop insurance instead of giving free-hand to the private insurance companies. Even though farmers have paid the proper installments for insurance but by giving petty reason companies deny to sanction the insurance amount. The farmers are hardly benefiting from the insurance schemes. In order to address all the issues regarding the insurance schemes the government should step-in and set-up farmer friendly policies,” urged Gani, who is into grape cultivation from the last five decades.
Meanwhile, the members of the KSGGA appealed to the Central Government to waive the national bank loans. “We are appealing to the Central Government to waive the grape growers’ loans from the last two decades but it is falling on deaf ears. If not, at least the State Government should waive the loan. Apart from this the government must have talks with bank authorities to extend the timeline for the repayment of recently taken loans by one year as farmers are yet to recover from Covid,” Mumbareddy urged.
