Heavy rainfall and floods in the northern districts of Karnataka have caused significant damage to Kharif crops this year. According to official data, crops covering more than 9.6 lakh hectares have been damaged so far. Kharif crops such as pigeon pea, black gram, green gram, soybean, and cotton have suffered significant damage. Farmers stated that their crops have been destroyed this year, leaving them facing a severe financial crisis. When it comes to standing agriculture, crops have been affected on around 8,88,953 hectares, and horticulture crops on 71,626 hectares.
What did the Karnataka CM say about compensation for the damage due to kharif crops?
Highlighting NDRF guidelines, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that dryland farmers will receive a compensation of ₹8,500 per hectare and an additional relief of ₹8,500 from the State, aggregating around ₹17,000/hectare. Likewise, farmers with irrigated lands affected by heavy rainfall and floods will get a relief of ₹25,500 per ha (₹17,000 per ha as per NDRF and ₹8,500 additional relief from the State). Affected Farmers with perennial crops will receive a relief of ₹22,500 per ha. Not only this, but an additional relief of ₹8,500 per ha.
Affected Farmers should be compensated immediately
Basavaraj Ingin, President of Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association, said standing kharif crops like red gram (tur), black matpe, green gram, cotton, soybean, among others, are badly affected by the heavy rainfall and also the floods. In addition, he said that farmers fear that the likely delayed withdrawal of the monsoon will create a problem for the remaining standing crops. He added, “Though the rains have slowed down, there is a rainfall prediction in a fortnight. There’s a concern that it could spark the wilt disease in tur”. Furthermore, he urged that the affected Farmers should be compensated immediately, saying that we are demanding that the farmers should be given a relief of ₹25,000 per acre immediately.