From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 18: The recent heavy downpour in different parts of Karnataka, especially in the coastal relgion of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Shimoga districts has resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 1,889 crore worth of areacanut, coconut and pomegranate crops.

Karnataka’s  Horticulture Department Principal Secretary M K Shankaralinge Gowda told reporters on Wednesday that the estimated loss of arecanut due fruit rot disease (Kole Roga) alone has been put at Rs 789 crore.

Heavy rainfall since the beginning of the monsoon in Malnad and coastal regions of Karnataka has dealt a serious blow to arecanut growers, who have lost crop on account of the disease.

The State Government has already sanctioned Rs 73 crore and Rs 35 crore had been released to the four districts of Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kogadu for providing compensation at the rate of Rs 12,000 per hectare.

If more funds were needed for providing compensation, he said a proposal would be placed before the Cabinet sub-committee.

Gowda said Coconut palms spread over 15,789 hectares in 11 major coconut growing districts were dead on account of severe droughts in the State for in the last three years.

The loss has been estimated at Rs 600 crore.

A proposal would be sent to the Centre seeking at compensation for providing relief to growers, he said.

The Centre and State would share the burden of paying compensation on 50:50 ratio.

A central team led by the Horticulture Commissioner of the Union Ministry of Agriculture Gorak Singh submitted the report and recommended plantation of dwarf and hybrid varieties in irrigated areas, Gowda said.

There is a plan to release Rs 25,000 each to coconut growers in two installments to take up replanting of the plants, he said adding that the plan had to be approved by the government.

The loss occurred to the pomegranate crop has been put at Rs 500 crore in the last few years.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 50 crore packages and Rs 25 crore had been released, he said pointing out that growers have been advised against taking up pomegranate cultivation in irrigation areas.

To fight malnutrition in the six districts in the Gulbarga division, the department decided to promote kitchen gardens at the household level, urban horticulture on the premises of schools and anganawadis and community gardens with a focus on vegetable cultivation.

A sum of Rs 2.5 crore has been earmarked for project for distribution of seeds and seedlings of the vegetables. This initiative has assumed importance as the department has roped in the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) to support this project, he added.