Karnataka drought conditions have caused widespread crop failures, fodder shortages and worsening drinking-water stress across Hassan, Davanagere and Chitradurga, as central assessment teams inspected affected villages and farmers sought immediate financial relief.
A central team concluded a two-day inspection of drought-hit areas in Hassan district on Sunday, visiting villages in Arasikere and Holenarasipur taluks and agricultural fields in Dudda, Hassan taluk. The team assessed crop losses, shortages of fodder and the hardships faced by farmers following severe rainfall deficiency.
In Arasikere, officials inspected withered crops and land left uncultivated because of inadequate rainfall in Mallapura, Banavara and neighbouring villages. Coconut, a major commercial crop in the taluk, has suffered extensive damage due to moisture deficiency, district in-charge minister KM Shivalingegowda told the team.
At a review meeting, Hassan deputy commissioner KS Latha Kumari presented details of the rainfall deficit and crop damage. Ragi was cultivated across about 31,000 hectares in the district, of which nearly 28,000 hectares suffered complete crop loss, she said. Hassan recorded rainfall deficits of 68% in July and 69% in August.
Farmers began sowing after limited rainfall in July, but only 3% of the targeted sowing had been completed by the end of August, according to the district administration’s assessment. Attempts at fresh sowing in September also failed because subsequent rainfall did not arrive, resulting in widespread crop losses.
The drought has also created a fodder shortage affecting more than 10,000 livestock in Hassan. Farmers told officials that they were seeking immediate assistance despite having paid crop insurance premiums. Shivalingegowda said the crisis had affected agriculture, dairy farming and drinking-water availability, and urged the Centre to provide relief to farmers.
He said rainfall in parts of the district was 85% to 90% below normal. Water is being supplied from the Hemavathi reservoir, but the available supply remains inadequate for drinking-water and livestock requirements, he said. Drying borewells have further intensified the crisis in rural areas.
“This is not a political issue,” Shivalingegowda said. “Under the federal system, it is the Centre’s responsibility to support states facing distress.”
A separate team led by Ajit Kumar Sahu, joint secretary in the Union agriculture ministry, visited villages in Davanagere and Chitradurga districts. At Sakkare in Dharmapura, farmer Thirumalappa told officials that he had spent Rs 86,893 cultivating groundnut on 2.5 acres, but the crop had dried up. He estimated his loss at nearly Rs 1 lakh.
The team also inspected stunted maize and cotton crops, with farmers reporting a sharp fall in groundwater levels. Farmer Nagaraj said he had cut his failed groundnut crop for use as cattle fodder. Retired principal and farmer Tippayya told officials that he had spent Rs 62,025 on pigeon pea across 10 acres, but the plants had not developed pods.
Officials reviewed maize, papaya, coconut, horse gram and cucumber fields, along with desilting works, household tap connections and a government cattle shelter. At Raitha Bhavan, farmers submitted petitions seeking compensation of Rs 40,000 per hectare, or at least Rs 20,000 per acre. Some also urged the government to declare the district permanently drought-prone.
The central assessment process will continue with a team scheduled to visit Koppal on Monday for a ground-level review of drought conditions.
