Farmer couple in Ballari carries water in pots daily to save 2.5-acre cotton crop amid weak monsoon

In Metri village of Kampli taluk, Ballari, a farmer couple have been carrying pots of water daily for the past two weeks to save their cotton crop. The couple had taken the land on lease and sowed cotton about two months ago. However, the groundwater level in their borewell dropped sharply due to deficient monsoon rainfall, prompting them to fetch water in pots from the borewell of a neighbouring farmer to irrigate the standing crop. The couple had already spent on crop maintenance before their borewell suddenly went dry. The absence of rain in the coming days would make it difficult for them to sustain their livelihood, repay loans, and pay the lease amount to the landowner. Farmers in the area stated that delayed monsoon rains have led to a decline in groundwater levels in some borewells. While three-phase power is being supplied for seven hours a day, frequent interruptions, four to five times during the supply period, have affected irrigation, leaving crops without adequate water. With only about 20% of the sowing target achieved, farmers said the immediate priority is to protect the standing crop as prolonged dry conditions continue to threaten cultivation across the district.