Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Sunday that the farmers in the state have suffered a total loss of Rs 30,000 crore due to drought this year. He said thatapproximately 42 lakh hectares of crops have been damaged in teh state and 216 out of 236 taluks of the state have been declared drought-hit.
42 lakh hectares of crops have been damaged
"There is crop loss of 42 lakh hectares in the state. The farmers have incurred a loss of Rs 30,000 this year. As per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, we have sought Rs 4,860 crore from the Union government and the Central team has visited the drought-hit areas," Siddaramaiah said addressing people during the inauguration of historic Mysuru Dasara festival.
Siddaramaiah explained that initially, the state government had declared drought conditions in 195 taluks. However, following a subsequent meeting and assessment, the cabinet sub-committee decided to add 21 more taluks to the list of drought-affected areas. This brings the total number of drought-hit taluks in the state to 216.
He said that the state government will offer input subsidies to the farmers to address various needs, including drinking water, fodder for livestock, employment opportunities, and other relief measures. These subsidies are aimed at assisting the farmers during this challenging period of drought.
"This year's speciality is that we are witnessing green drought where crops have grown but there is no yield," he noted.
1,219 farmers have committed suicide
According to officials, in Karnataka, a total of 1,219 farmers have lost their lives in the past 18 months after suffering crop losses. The state government has declared drought in 194 out of the total 236 taluks and has requested a relief package of Rs 4,860 crore from the central government.
(With PTI inputs)
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