Farmers urge govt to declare state drought-hit, provide relief

Dharwad: With the government claiming that the crop survey is still underway, the farmers have continued to pressurise the government, demanding that the state be declared drought-hit immediately and also take measures to bail out distressed farmers.On Thursday, hundreds of farmers under the aegis of Bharathiya Krishik Samaj, took out a protest rally in Dharwad from Kadapa Maidan to the deputy commissioner’s office and staged a dharna.They stated that there has been a severe deficit of rain during the kharif, which has severely impacted crop growth. The yield has been reduced drastically. No district in the state, including Dharwad, has completed 100% sowing due to weak monsoon. Adding to the woes, the pest attack on standing crops has further aggravated the situation.From 50 tonnes to 30: How water shortage is hitting Karnataka’s sugarcane farmersGoing by the present situation, it seems that pulses, oilseeds and cereals are largely affected and the yield will dip by 30%. Therefore, without any further delay, the government should announce crop loss compensation to the farmers and pull them out from the clutches of debt, they said.Organisation state president Mahantesh Kamatagi said that during kharif, greengram, blackgram, groundnut, cotton, soya and onion are the main crops. But this time, the yield is less due to deficit rains. The crops have withered, and the farmers who have invested by borrowing loans have suffered financial loss, he added.The situation is such that they are unable to get even 50% of the returns invested in the fields. This has rendered them helpless to go for rabi sowing, he said.The cost of agriculture inputs including seeds, fertilisers and pesticides has shot up, while erratic weather has been playing spoilsport. This has pushed the farming community into troubled waters. Without waiting for the officials to submit their survey report, the government on humanitarian grounds should announce interim relief. This will enable farmers to go for rabi sowing, he explained.Along with this, the government should waive off farm loans and help the farmers, he demanded.Organisation district president Mudakappa Kankolli said that even after facing loss, the farmers have paid crop insurance premiums. However, now when they are facing financial problems, the insurance companies have not provided any relief. As an immediate relief, at least 50% of the insurance amount should be released, he said.Irrigational projects should be expanded, and the long-pending Kalasa Banduri water project should be implemented, the farmers said.Farmer leaders Venkangouda Kanteppagoudar, Ullappa Divatagi, Manjunath Budhihaal, Vinayak Myageri, Gurupadappa Bankad and others were present. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner addressed to the chief minister.

Source: Deccan Herald