Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to see a fall of 25 to 30 per cent in food production owing to the threat of heavy rains and floods.
According to a report by the Times of India, the state is facing a potential drop in food production as floods in numerous parts of Karnataka cause losses in the Kharif crop season. TOI has quoted agriculture officials as saying that, unless the losses are recovered in the Rabi crop season, the state will see a 25 to 30 per cent fall in production of food grains and pulses.
TOI’s report also states that, of the state’s target of 110 lakh tonnes in food production for 2019, only 80 to 85 lakh tonnes will be realised. The report states that this is because 7.5 lakh hectares (out of 75 lakh hectares) of the standing Kharif crop was destroyed.
In addition to this, the report states that, against a targetted 33 lakh hectares, only 12 hectares of Rabi crop plantation has been seen. As per officials, normally, 70 per cent of the sowing should have been completed by the first week of November, however, heavy rains have seen to it that there is a shortfall in sowing activity.