Rain targets pomegranates

The growers in Sangola and the adjacent plateau are caught between the devil and the deep sea. If the rain is below average the orchards dry up. Rain in excess of the average floods the orchards and eventually leads to the rotting of the pomegranates.

The fruit ripens between July and September. During these months, most parts of the State experienced heavy rain this year. The ruin of the orchards would result in heavy losses in Sangola alone, local agriculture produce market committee director Kaka Bandgar said.

Sangola has been in the grip of wet conditions, after one of the worst dry spells, Bandgar said. The pomegranate growers have taken huge loans from the District Credit Bank which they may not be able to repay, he said.

The region is blessed with soil that produces export quality pomegranates. A demand for a detailed survey of the destruction and compensation are gaining grounds in the region.

The neighbouring talukas of Khanapur, Tasgaon and Jat of Sangli district also are facing wet conditions with heavy downpour since late last week. Soybean and paddy harvesters in Miraj, Shirala and Walwa tehsils besides grapes and pomegranate orchards in Tasgaon and Atpadi have been heavily damaged.

The peasants are also apprehensive over the rain staying on till the rabbi season. The harvesting of kharif has been badly affected.

Rain played havoc in Muchandi, Umdi, Utgi areas of Jat besides other parts of Sangli bordering Karnataka, reports said. Several houses were damaged by the unprecedented showers which now have set new rainfall averages for these dry plains. Normal life was also thrown out of gear as many villages were cut off after flash floods. The rain reportedly claimed two lives in Jat tehsil when two women were washed away in a flooded rivulet, reports said.