‘Farmers’ interests to be protected’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s advice to central team amid drought-like situation in state

Farmers are suffering due to delays in southwest monsoon and lack of rain in the state. 90 percent of the crop has been sown, of which over 42 lakh hectares have suffered crop damage. Farmers’ fields are green but there is no yield. The CM, explaining the prevailing situation, said that there is a “green drought” in the state.

The CM opined that the team must understand the situation during the tour, and should convince the central government about it so that they can quickly respond to the plight of the farmers in the state. “Due to a delay in monsoon and the lowest rainfall in the last 122 years in the month of August, the state’s dams are empty. There were Scattered rains in the month of September. The monsoon is coming to an end. This has created fear of a shortage of drinking water and electricity”, he said.

Due to the lack of rain in Kodagu district, the water level in the K.R.S. dam is low. The state needs 33 TMC of water for drinking purposes. Due to the lack of rain, there is a state of anxiety, the CM explained.

The number of small and medium farmers in the state has increased and their data has been collected in the FRUITS portal. The crop survey has also been digitized and accurate information is made available. The crop loss compensation under prescribed NDRF guidelines is very low and needs to be increased. He said that additional compensation for crop loss is being given in the state.