Intro
Heavy rainfall in neighbouring Maharashtra has brought much-needed relief to paddy farmers in Yadgir district, where uncertainty over water availability had threatened cultivation during the current kharif season.
CH NEWS
YADGIR
Despite the monsoon season being halfway through, the Krishna and Bhima rivers had remained almost dry due to poor rainfall, leaving farmers who depend on canal and river irrigation anxious about paddy cultivation across thousands of hectares. Ironically, while floodwaters from Maharashtra caused widespread damage last year, this year’s releases have emerged as a lifeline for farmers. Large volumes of water released from reservoirs in Maharashtra have filled the Narayanpur Reservoir and the barrages on the Bhima River, ensuring a steady supply of irrigation water to the Krishna command area and the Bhima river basin.
Only a few days ago, the district administration had advised farmers not to rely on reservoir water for water-intensive crops and suggested shifting to crops requiring less irrigation due to declining water levels. The advisory had created uncertainty among farmers who had already prepared their fields for paddy cultivation.The situation changed after heavy rainfall in Maharashtra led to increased releases from the Ujani Dam. Water is now flowing through the Sannati and Gurusanagi bridge-cum-barrages, bringing renewed confidence among farmers.
We lost our paddy crop in last year’s floods and were pushed into debt. This year, we began transplantation with the little water available in the river. Now the river is flowing full, and our crop has reached the stage of urea application, said farmers from the Bhima river basin. They added that a full Bhima River allows them to cultivate two crops a year, as the barrages store sufficient water and groundwater levels improve, making irrigation through pump sets easier.
Paddy transplantation is now in full swing across the Krishna command areas, including Kembhavi, Shahapur and Hunasagi.Although the region received only light rainfall this monsoon, abundant rains in Maharashtra have increased inflows into the Krishna River, enabling the release of water into the Narayanpur Left Bank Canal.
BOX
Farmers who had prepared nurseries and fields nearly 40 to 45 days ago have welcomed the delayed release of irrigation water. The recent drizzle has also improved soil moisture, creating favourable conditions for transplantation. However, the simultaneous commencement of transplantation across several villages has resulted in a shortage of agricultural labourers.