more-in Tungabhadra reservoir in Koppal district, a lifeline for irrigation-dependent agriculture in Raichur, Koppal, and Ballari districts, has less than 5 tmcft water against its capacity of about 70 tmcft. None of the fields along any of the canals in the command area has received water for a second crop for the second successive year. This has hit rice cultivation and at least half of the rice mills in Raichur, Sindhanur and Gangavati. Other towns in the paddy-growing areas have downed their shutters with no supply. Rice millers in Raichur predict a sharp rise in the prices of Sona Masuri rice variety that has been in high demand for its superior quality in Bengaluru and other metros. Already, the Sona Masuri paddy price has risen from ?1,500 a quintal in December last year to ?2,200 a quintal now. The wholesale Sona Masuri rice prices are consequently up from ?3,000 a quintal to ?4,000 a quintal. “The prices are expected to rise further considering the crop loss in the Cauvery basin in Tamil Nadu and Tungabhadra basin in Andhra Pradesh,” Maram Tippanna, a rice miller from Raichur told The Hindu. About 50% of the local paddy that was stocked after the monsoon harvest has been supplied to Tamil Nadu, causing a shortfall in the market, he pointed out. Various canals of the Tungabhadra reservoir irrigate over 9 lakh acres in Raichur, Koppal, and Ballari districts. Sona Masuri paddy is grown extensively in the belt twice a year, except at canals’ tail-end parts. While poor rain hit the first crop, there is no second crop this year. The situation was similar last year. Those who have cultivated paddy in a small scale in the fields irrigated by borewells too have suffered a loss of at least by 50% thanks to groundwater depletion. “Most villagers have left for Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru and other urban centres, leaving behind the old and sick,” Chamarasa Malipatil, honorary State president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, said. The one ray of hope, millers say, is getting some quantity of paddy from Krishna basin in Raichur, Yadgir, and Kalaburagi as the command area and catchment area have received relatively better rainfall.

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