Karnataka Records Bumper Sowing, Farmers Worried

Karnataka records bumper sowing this year, compared to the previous year, when sowing was only 68.66 per cent. Farmers are worried if their yields would fetch good prices.  

For the first time in decades, Karnataka recorded a bumper sowing in over 70 lakh hectares of land. The land targeted for agriculture is 77 lakh hectares. This means that there has been sowing in 90.96 per cent of land fit for cultivation. While this is being considered good news by official, farmers are taking it with a pinch of salt.  

The reason behind their skepticism is that such extensive sowing is bound to give a very high yield. Farmers may not get the right prices for their crops in the market as the prices may go down with surplus production.  

The reason behind this record sowing is ample rainfall in the state and the return of people from cities to villages due to Coronavirus. However, it is to be noted that last year also saw an upward trend in sowing but the crops were later destroyed by heavy rainfall. As many as 15 districts had been adversely affected by incessant rainfall. Taking all of this into consideration, the reason to worry becomes all the more pronounced.  

There is yet another week left for sowing and the numbers could actually still group. While there may be reason for celebration, it is imperative for government to support the rise of agriculture in the state, given the high figures.

To ensure that the farmers get the right price for their products, the government must revise its procurement policy. In fact, it is an irony that farmers are worried even when the production is anticipated to be high. This itself is reason enough to make a strong case for more supportive marketing policies.