Mon Aug 18 08:05:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Excessive rainfall in the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka, India, has devastated crops of green gram, black gram, and red gram. Farmers who had invested heavily and taken on debt are now facing severe losses as their crops are destroyed by waterlogged fields. The Agriculture Department is assessing the damage, and farmers are struggling to report their losses through the overloaded official insurance channels. The situation threatens the livelihoods of thousands in the region, known as the “toor bowl” of Karnataka.
**News Article:**
**Karnataka Farmers Devastated as Excessive Rains Destroy Crops in “Toor Bowl”**
**KALABURAGI, August 18, 2025 (The Hindu) –** Thousands of farmers in the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka are facing ruin after torrential rains have destroyed vast swathes of green gram, black gram, and red gram crops. The region, known as the “toor bowl” for its extensive pigeon pea (red gram) cultivation, has been inundated by persistent rainfall throughout July and early August, leaving fields waterlogged and crops unable to survive.
Farmers like Veerendra from Indarpad Hosalli village, who invested heavily in seeds, fertilizers, and labor, are now facing financial ruin. “I was certain that this year would change everything for me, but in just 15 days, rains destroyed everything I worked for,” he lamented. Similar stories are emerging from villages across the district, with farmers reporting complete crop failure due to the excess moisture suffocating the plants.
According to the Agriculture Department, red gram covers 5.87 lakh hectares in Kalaburagi district, green gram 58,000 hectares, and black gram 33,000 hectares. Officials are still quantifying the extent of the damage. “We have asked our assistant directors to submit detailed reports,” said Samad Patel, Joint Director of Agriculture.
Farmers who had insured their crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana are encountering further difficulties. The official phone lines for reporting losses are overwhelmed, leaving many unable to file their claims. The Agriculture Department has instructed Raitha Samparka Kendras to accept physical reports as an alternative.
Farm scientists warn that continued rains could lead to even more widespread crop failure, further exacerbating the plight of farmers in the region. The disaster highlights the vulnerability of agriculture to unpredictable weather patterns and the need for improved support and insurance mechanisms for farmers in Karnataka.
First Piper 