Central Karnataka Farmers Hire Water Tankers to Save Areca Crops

Growers across central Karnataka are facing difficult choices amid widespread drought conditions brought on by a weak monsoon season. In districts including Davangere, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru, farmers have left large tracts of agricultural land uncultivated as water scarcity intensifies.

To cope with the deficit, agricultural growers in these regions are hiring water tankers specifically to sustain their areca plantations. The decision comes as farmers choose to protect their high-investment arecanut crops over cultivating regular food crops.

Farming communities have prioritized these plantation assets instead of taking up vegetable and paddy cultivation, leaving seasonal food crops neglected due to the severe shortage of water.

With monsoon rains falling short, the reliance on private water tankers has become a primary measure for growers in Davangere, Chitradurga, and Tumakuru seeking to prevent total losses across their standing areca acreage.