Cloudy atmosphere leaves paddy farmers in Raichur, Yadgir worried

Kalaburagi: The countdown to harvesting paddy having begun in the earnest in Raichur and Yadgir districts, the gloomy weather prevailing almost across Karnataka, has the farmers understandably perturbed. The overcast sky may result in the colour of the rice in the crop going black, which will subsequently translate to huge losses for the farmers, who will be forced to sell their crop at a throwaway price.
On Monday, the farmers in the two districts greeted the Sun with visible delight, for the bright light rent asunder the gloom that had hung over the sky for the past four days.Rice mill owners are unlikely to purchase the blackened crop, and if they do, may not offer an attractive sum to the farmers. There are also fears of a marked reduction in the yield this year.
Most of the farmers engaged in the cultivation of paddy in the two districts have leased farmland for the venture. Under the terms of the agreement, the farmer is obliged to pay the landlord once the paddy is harvested. However, with the threat of their crop blackening, the farmers, most of whom borrowed money from private moneylenders to sow their fields, are fretting over honouring their commitment, and settling their debts.
Bheemappa Hosamani, a farmer in Kembavi, Shorapur taluk in Yadgir, said that the cloudy atmosphere was likely to result in the rice crop accruing a black hue, which would, in turn, result in their produce fetching very low prices. “We are all quite worried since we have to prepare for the harvest soon,” he added.