Minister Santosh Lad has said that the problems being faced by farmers due to crop losses in Dharwad district will be brought to the notice of the State government after a comprehensive assessment of the prevailing situation.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to crop fields in Navalgund taluk on Thursday, Mr. Lad said that the farmers of the district were facing severe distress owing to erratic rainfall during the current agricultural season.

He said that of the 2.90 lakh hectares of cultivable land in the district, sowing had been completed in nearly 2.80 lakh hectares, accounting for about 96% of the total agricultural area. Over 45,000 hectares had been sown with green gram and black gram, while maize was cultivated in over 40,000 hectares. Soybean, cotton, groundnut, sugarcane, onion and several horticultural crops had also been affected due to the deficit rainfall, the Minister said.

Mr. Lad said that reports would be prepared after consultations with farmers, farmer leaders and agricultural experts and submitted to the government for further action.

“Although the fields appear green, crop growth has not been satisfactory. The failure of rainfall during the critical stages of crop growth has resulted in stunted development and significant losses to farmers. In some places, rainfall exceeded expectations, but because it was neither timely nor evenly distributed, the crops derived little benefit,” he said.

The Minister said the government would make efforts to ensure that farmers received all available assistance, including benefits under the crop insurance scheme and other relief measures available through government agencies and insurance companies. Suggestions made by legislators and farmer leaders would also be incorporated into the report submitted to the government, Mr. Lad added.

Mr. Lad said the declaration of drought was governed by the Centre’s guidelines and prescribed technical parameters, and any decision would have to be taken in accordance with those norms. Besides the quantum of rainfall, its timing during different stages of crop growth was an equally important factor, he said, adding that this aspect would also be brought to the notice of both State and Central governments.

MLA for Navalgund N.H. Konaraddi, who accompanied the Minister during the visit, said that despite some rainfall, green gram and cotton crops had suffered extensive damage. “The crops may appear green from the outside, but there is little yield. Green gram plants are nearing the end of their crop cycle without flowering, while cotton plants are producing only five to ten bolls instead of the expected higher numbers,” he said.

He urged the government to adopt more flexible norms while assessing crop losses so that farmers received adequate compensation. Expressing concern over delays in crop insurance payments over the past two years, he said steps should be taken to ensure that farmers, rather than private insurance companies, benefited from the scheme.

Mr. Konaraddi said that representations would be submitted to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking relief for the affected farmers.

Mr. Lad earlier visited Harobelavadi village in Dharwad taluk and Shirur, Shirakol, Morab and Tirlapur villages in Navalgund taluk to assess crop conditions. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Snehal R., Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat Bhuvanesh Patil, Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya and others.

Late in the day, the Minister visited Dundur, Manakawad of Annigeri taluk and Yaraguppi, Shiraguppi, Mullolli of Kundagol taluk and Yarinarayanapura, Nalavadi of Hubballi taluk to assess the drought situation.

Published - August 06, 2026 08:01 pm IST