GULBARGA: The command areas of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) in Gulbarga district, considered a goldmine by Andhra Pradesh farmers, has turned out be a jinxed place at least in places where chilli and cotton cultivation has been taken up.

Many camps of the Andhra Pradesh-based farmers along Jewargi and Mudbal branch canals of the UKP have been deserted.

The farmers have returned to their villages in Andhra Pradesh after suffering heavy losses because of the steep fall in the prices of chilli and cotton.

On an average, chilli growers in the UKP command areas suffered losses ranging from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 3 lakhs on cultivation taken up on 10 acres of and.

Lack of storing facilities and chilling plants in the region has added to the woes of chilli growers in the command area.

According to reports available here, Edukondalu, a farmer who had returned to Andhra Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison four days ago unable to repay loans taken from money lenders.

Edukondalu had taken on lease 10 acres of land in Ganwar in Jewargi taluk and took up chilli cultivation.

Because of the fall in prices, he had lost Rs. 2 lakhs.

He left the Saibaba Camp on the outskirts of Ganwar overnight without informing anybody in the camp and without paying the lease amount or the wages to farm labourers.

Of the 16 families that moved into Saibaba Camp, only two have remained. Narayanamma, who claims to have lost Rs. 5 lakhs because of the fall in prices, told The Hindu that she had taken up cultivation of chilli on 30 acres of land, which she had taken on lease.

While the prices of the Byadgi variety of chilli had come down to Rs. 2,000 a quintal from the normal prices of Rs. 7,000 a quintal every year, the prices of Guntur variety of chilli had fallen to Rs. 1,000 a quintal this year as against the normal price of Rs. 2,500 a quintal.

Even farmers who had taken up cultivation of cotton had burnt their fingers because of the failure of BT cotton and other varieties this year. Apart from the fall in the yield, the prices have declined.

The same is the story in a number of camps in the Jewargi and Mudbal branch canal areas of the UKP with a majority of the camps wearing deserted look after the departure of Andhra Pradesh farmers.

While leaving their camps, the farmers have left behind dumps of chilli in their fields, worth several lakhs of rupees, which was rotting as they could not get the remunerative price for their produce.

(To be concluded)

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