The Karnataka government is prepared to borrow money if necessary to support farmers affected by the severe drought, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara said during a field visit in Raichur district on October 8. He also said funds had been released for crop-loss compensation, drinking water and fodder.
Parameshwara inspected drought-hit fields in Umalooti and Kalmangi villages of Sindhanur taluk and interacted with farmers. He said the state had announced ₹1,250 crore in relief, with assistance of ₹2,500 being provided to each farmer. While the Centre has a provision to provide ₹8,000 in compensation, the state government was also taking steps to support farmers, he said.
Of Karnataka’s 240 taluks, 217 have already been declared drought-affected, according to the Deputy Chief Minister. The remaining taluks are also facing the threat of drought. He said inadequate rainfall had caused sown crops to dry up and left farmers facing financial hardship.
The state has released ₹306 crore for drinking-water arrangements in different areas, while ₹25 crore has been provided through deputy commissioners to fodder banks for livestock feed and fodder kits. The total allocation for drinking water and fodder cited during the visit was ₹331 crore.
Parameshwara also directed officials to ensure six hours of uninterrupted electricity supply to agricultural pump sets. He instructed them to resolve technical faults quickly so that farmers do not face further disruption in power supply.
During the inspection, he visited around 20 acres of damaged pigeon-pea crop belonging to farmer Beeramallappa Nayak in survey number 92 at Umalooti. The farmer said he had sown four quintals of pigeon pea, but the crop was completely destroyed because rains did not arrive on time. He requested compensation of ₹50,000 per acre.
At Kalmangi, Parameshwara inspected damaged pigeon-pea fields belonging to Nagamma Sharanegowda in survey number 14. Another farmer, Hanumangowda, said he paid ₹30,000 every year for crop insurance on his 12-acre holding but had not received compensation for three years. He said the pigeon-pea crop had completely dried up this year and that it had become difficult to sustain his household.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed officials to expand employment under the rural employment guarantee programme to prevent farmers and agricultural labourers from migrating during the drought. He also instructed deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat chief executive officers to ensure that wages were paid every week.
Farmer Basavaraj told him that wages had not been paid for one-and-a-half months and that only ₹102 had been credited for work completed in the previous month. Parameshwara questioned Raichur Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Eshwar Kumar Kandu about the delay and directed officials to resolve technical issues instead of allowing payments to remain pending.
The government’s next steps include continuing drought-relief disbursements, maintaining drinking-water and fodder arrangements, ensuring power supply to agricultural pump sets and increasing rural employment opportunities. Officials from the district administration, agriculture department, police department and local government were present during the inspection.
