For Toor Dal farmers, untimely rains a blessing

By Firoz Rozindar

Vijayapura: The untimely rains this season have proved to be a bane for most farmers in Vijayapura but not for Toor Dal growers for whom the downpour has come as a blessing in a parched district.

The farmers were praying for good rain for the past four weeks and their prayers have been answered as the district is witnessing moderate showers for the last three days.

Shanthgouda Gulabal, a farmer from Talikoti taluk, said, “We are expecting a good yield this year as rainfall has occurred at regular intervals and the Toor crop is in good condition. If we hadn’t received this rain, it would have affected the quality of the crop. I have sown Toor in eight acres. Even the price is overwhelming for the same crop in the market.”

According to the Met forecast for the state, “Vijayapura is likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall coupled with hailstorms till November 22. The rainfall is predicted to be between 2.5mm and 15.2mm.” The district has till now recorded an average rainfall of 3.10mm with the Indi region recording the highest of 13.16mm in the last 24 hours.

Vijayapura is the second highest Toor producer in the state after Kalaburagi. According to the Department of Agriculture, “Toor is sowed over 4.7 lakh hectares in the region. It is the major crop of the district and a six-month crop.”

Rajshekar Williams, joint-director, Department of Agriculture, pointed out that the district has not received the expected amount of rain in the last two months. ‘’We received 34mm rain in October, which is 77mm mm less and this month, we have recorded only 12mm rainfall, when the expected quantum was 25mm.”

“This rainfall was the need of the hour for Toor growers. It will not damage the crop as the flowering stage is already complete. However, the rain has damaged the onion crop in a few areas in the district. The estimate of damage will be done once the rain stops,” stated JD Williams.

It may be noted that grape-growers in the region are worried because of the continuous rainfall. The non-stop rain will result in a fungal infection and damage the flowers. Meanwhile, the onion crop is ripe enough for harvesting but the untimely rain has ruined the happiness of farmers.