Kalaburagi, Sept. 17 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today expressed serious concern over the largescale failure of the tur (pigeon pea) crop in north Karnataka and the consequent hardship faced by farmers.
Addressing reporters here, the Chief Minister said that tur, one of the most important pulses in the region, has suffered heavy damage this season due to a combination of adverse weather and pest attacks. "Farmers in several taluks sowed tur twice this year. After the first sowing, continuous rains and waterlogging damaged the seedlings. When they tried again, a fungal infection spread through the plants, destroying much of the standing crop. Even the remaining plants are at risk of drying up if the hot sun continues," he expla...