Diesel shortage delaying paddy harvesting in Karimnagar

Paddy harvesting in Karimnagar has been delayed due to a diesel shortage, leaving farmers worried about crop damage from unseasonal rains. Despite official claims of adequate fuel supply, farmers report difficulties in accessing diesel for harvesting machines.

Karimnagar: Harvesting of paddy has been delayed due to a shortage of diesel, and farmers are apprehensive of damage to the crop in the wake of unseasonal rains. Though the district administration claimed that there was no shortage of diesel, petrol and LPG in the district, no stock boards have appeared at petrol bunks. The ongoing war between the US, Israel and Iran is said to be the reason for the shortage.

Paddy cultivation in the erstwhile Karimnagar district has increased significantly with the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Farmers are sowing paddy in both Yasangi and Vanakalam seasons. The crop was cultivated in about 9 lakh acres in the old Karimnagar district and 2.73 lakh acres in Karimnagar in the present Yasangi season. Since it is the right time to harvest the crop, the diesel shortage has become a challenge for farmers.

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Almost all farmers are engaging harvesting machines to harvest the crop. However, the diesel shortage is hindering the process since fuel is vital to operate the machines. Farmers are making rounds of fuel stations as stock boards have not been displayed at most bunks in the last few days. Besides waiting at petrol bunks for hours together by placing plastic tins in queue lines, ryots are also visiting faraway fuel stations to get diesel.

Speaking to Telangana Today, a farmer from Veenavanka, R Narsaiah, said that harvester operators were unable to come to the fields immediately due to the diesel shortage. Informing that he cultivated paddy on three acres, he said that it would take four to five hours to harvest the entire crop. However, he has been waiting for the last five days.

Another farmer, Thirupati, said that though there was no problem in waiting for a few days, unseasonal rains were posing a threat. The entire crop would fall if it rained, he said. Farmers were being charged Rs 2,000 per hour to harvest the crop using tyre harvesters. If it is a track (chain) harvester, Rs 3,000 is being charged. Track vehicles are used to harvest paddy in muddy fields.