Ministers Shivaraj S. Tangadagi and Basavaraj Rayareddi interacting with farmers during a joint visit to Kushtagi, Kuknoor, Yelburga and Koppal taluks on Thursday to assess the impact of deficient monsoon rains.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Cabinet Ministers Shivaraj S. Tangadagi and Basavaraj Rayaraddi on Thursday jointly inspected drought-hit villages across Koppal district and assured farmers that the State government would take appropriate steps to provide relief after assessing the extent of crop losses caused by the prolonged monsoon deficit.
The Ministers, accompanied by former Lok Sabha Member Sanganna Karadi, district in-charge secretary K.P. Mohanraj, Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal, Superintendent of Police Ram L. Arasiddi, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat Varnit Negi, and officials from the Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, toured Kushtagi, Kuknoor, Yelburga and Koppal taluks to assess the ground situation.
They visited several farmlands where standing crops had withered due to inadequate rainfall and interacted with farmers to understand the losses they had suffered.
After reviewing crop damage in Gangavathi, Karatagi and Kanakagiri taluks on Wednesday, Mr. Tangadagi visited Navalahalli village in Kushtagi taluk on Thursday morning, where he inspected maize, pigeon pea (tur) and pearl millet (bajra) crops affected by drought.
Later, the two Ministers inspected damaged green gram and sunflower crops in Sanganahal and Rajur villages of Kuknoor taluk. They examined green gram cultivated by farmer Somashekharayya Ganachari on 2 acres and 8 guntas, sunflower raised by farmer Sangappa Shivareddi on 2 acres, and green gram sown by Safiya Begum Nadaf on 3 acres and 6 guntas in Rajur village.
The Ministers interacted with farmers at Rajur to hear their grievances and discuss the prevailing drought conditions.
‘Farmers will receive fair compensation’
Addressing the farmers, Mr. Rayaraddi said drought was not a new phenomenon in the region, but the present rainfall deficit had severely affected agricultural activity. He said Karnataka had recorded a 32% rainfall deficit against the seasonal average, while Koppal district had received about 40% less rainfall. As a result, sowing had been taken up only on around 66 acres for every 100 acres normally cultivated, with particularly low sowing reported in Yelburga and Kuknoor taluks.
“We are personally inspecting the situation. Farmers need not worry. The government will ensure that they receive fair compensation,” he assured.
Cabinet to discuss drought declaration
Mr. Tangadagi said the field visit had revealed extensive damage to crops such as pigeon pea, green gram and pearl millet.
“We have personally witnessed the extent of crop loss. A detailed report will be sent to the government, and the matter will be discussed in the Cabinet. Appropriate action regarding drought declaration will be taken after assessing the actual situation,” he said.
He added that the government remained committed to safeguarding the interests of poor and farming families and had already implemented several welfare programmes for their benefit.
40% rainfall deficit
Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal informed the Ministers that Koppal district had recorded only 98 mm of rainfall against the normal 158 mm so far this monsoon, resulting in an overall rainfall deficit of around 40%.
He said only about 63% of the intended sowing had been completed and crops in many areas were wilting due to moisture stress. Officials were conducting field inspections, collecting photographs and video evidence, and preparing an objective report to be submitted to the State government.
He added that nearly 1.56 lakh farmers in the district had already enrolled under the crop insurance scheme, while the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments were creating awareness about alternative cropping options suitable for the prevailing weather conditions.
The officials informed the Ministers that rainfall deficits stood at 35% in Yelburga taluk and 24% in Kuknoor taluk.
Several district and taluk-level officials, including representatives of the agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry departments, were present during the inspection.
Published – August 06, 2026 10:31 pm IST
