Two years of ‘abnormal monsoon’ puts North Karnataka farmers in crisis: Report
Hubballi: Two consecutive years of excessive monsoon rainfall have pushed farmers across North Interior Karnataka (NIK) into severe distress, with the region recording significantly more rainy days than South Interior Karnataka (SIK) and other parts of the state.
Karnataka recorded 149 rainy days in 2025, making it the state’s third-wettest year in the last five years. While NIK logged 102 rainfall days in 2025 and 108 in 2024, South Interior SIK reported 89 and 97 rain days during the same period. The coastal and Malnad regions, meanwhile, experienced their usual average of around 160 rainy days, as reported by Deccan Herald on Sunday.
The prolonged wet spell has severely affected dry-agriculture crops of north Karnataka region, especially tur, green gram, and maize.
Data from the agriculture department, cited by DH, shows that nearly 13.65 lakh hectares of farmland were impacted this monsoon, with 70% of the damage concentrated in Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Vijaypur, Gadag, Bagalkot, Bidar and Dharwad districts.
Farmers are grappling not only with waterlogged fields but also crop infections triggered by continuous rain. Tur, a staple crop across the seven NIK districts, has been struck by phytophthora stem blight, macrophomina blight and dry root rot diseases.
Mallikarjun Kenganal, senior plant pathology scientist, said excessive rainfall has also led to nutrient leaching, forcing farmers to spend more on cultivating crops. “The long duration of rains has also adversely impacted crop growth. Tur, which had to flower by now and get harvested by December, is still in vegetative stage,” DH quoted him as saying. He added the state could witness at least 50% lower yield of tur this year.
The excess rainfall will not only raise cultivation costs for farmers but also contribute to higher food inflation.
Climate variability and shifting wind patterns are among the factors behind the increasing number of rainy days in north Karnataka. “Monsoon arrived in Karnataka much before its usual first week of June. Rains have continued till October. In a normal rainfall year, the state used to record 65-70 days of rainfall. However, this year, it has been higher in all four regions,” DH quoted N. Puviarasan, head, Bengaluru Meteorological Centre, as saying.
Karnataka cultivates kharif crops on 81.22 lakh hectares, of which more than 13.65 lakh hectares have suffered damage this year. Tur fields, spread across 5.36 lakh hectares, are the worst affected, followed by cotton (2.68 lakh ha), green gram (2.63 lakh ha), maize (1.21 lakh ha) and soybean (97,810 ha).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Former India hockey coach Michael Nobbs dies
Melbourne (PTI): Former Australian hockey player Michael Nobbs, who coached the Indian men's team at the 2012 London Olympics, has died after a prolonged illness.
He was 72 years old and is survived by his wife Lee Capes, a former Australian women's international and daughter Kaitlin, who is a current Hockeyroos star.
"Hockey Australia extends its deepest condolences to Michael’s family, friends, former teammates, players and all those whose lives and careers were shaped by his contribution to hockey. He will be remembered as a proud Kookaburra, a respected professional, and a servant of the sport," Hockey Australia said in a statement.
Nobbs represented Australia as a defender, playing across the half-back line and at fullback, and was renowned for his reliability, fitness and professionalism. He earned 76 international caps for Australia between 1979 and 1985, scoring one goal, and was a member of one of the strongest eras in Australian men’s hockey, said Hockey Australia on its website in its tribute.
Nobbs was an integral part of the Australian teams that competed at the 1981 Hockey World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
While part of a generation widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest, he consistently held his place through hard work, discipline and trust earned from teammates and coaches, Hockey Australia wrote.
Nobbs took over the coaching of the Indian men's team in 2011 after it had failed to qualify for the Beijing Games in 2008. While India were brilliant in the qualifiers, the team finished last at the London extravaganza which also expedited the Australian coach's sacking.
Apart from India, Nobbs also coached Japan.
