Kalaburagi: Farmers across the Kalyana Karnataka region are facing severe distress due to inadequate rainfall this year, and BJP Raitha Morcha district secretary Vijayakumar Madgi has urged the state govt to declare the entire Kalaburagi district drought-hit and waive farmers’ loans.Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi on Thursday, Madgi said agricultural activities have suffered a major setback owing to the failure of expected rains. Crops such as red gram, black gram, green gram and soybean are on the verge of withering because of insufficient rainfall. Sowing operations were delayed in several villages, while farmers who had already sown crops are struggling to protect them.He said most taluks, including Chincholi, Kalagi, Sedam, Aland, Afzalpur and Jewargi, have been hit hard by the rainfall deficit. Key crops have suffered due to inadequate soil moisture, and many farmers who borrowed money to buy seeds and fertilisers now face the prospect of resowing after their initial crops failed.Madgi said declining reservoir levels, shrinking water bodies and falling groundwater tables have triggered concerns over an emerging drinking water crisis in rural areas. A shortage of fodder and water for livestock has also added to the difficulties of farmers dependent on animal husbandry.He demanded that the govt immediately declare Kalaburagi a drought-hit district, provide compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to affected farmers, expedite crop insurance payouts, waive agricultural loans, supply free fodder and drinking water, and distribute seeds and other agricultural inputs free of cost for resowing operations.
