A major farmers’ protest is gaining momentum in Karnataka as the state government’s decision to ban gutka and its move to divert water from Bhadra reservoir to other parts of the state has led to a boycott by arecanut growers. The growing anger and agitation has now turned into a call for a Davanagere bandh on Monday and farmers are warning of a larger nationwide movement if the government does not respond to their demands.
The protest has been led by arecanut growers from different parts of Davanagere district (Channagiri, Honnali, Mayakonda and Harihar). In the last three to four days, hundreds of farmers have participated in a padayatra (foot march) that made it to Davanagere city. The march was headed by a senior BJP leader and former minister M.P. Renukacharya and covered around 65 to 70 kilometers and attracted huge public interest and support from local farming communities.
Farmers say the government's proposed ban on gutka and similar products will have a serious economic impact on thousands of arecanut farmers in Karnataka and the rest of the state. These farmers contend that the majority of arecanut production is related to industries that manufacture chewing tobacco and anything that is not so much chewing product as chewing candy or chewing candy will adversely affect the demand for arecanut production and can affect farmers’ incomes in the near future, they say.
The dispute grew as the Health Minister said the government would take further steps to prevent gutka consumption in the name of public health. Health experts have long pointed out the harmful effects of tobacco and arecanut-based chewing products, but growers fear policy decisions will harm the farmers who depend on the production of arecanut.
Besides gutka, farmers are protesting the government’s decision to release water from Bhadra Dam to lakes and reservoirs in Chitradurga and Kadur region. Farmers from Davanagere and Shivamogga districts say it could cause irrigation needs to be affected by diverting water from their region, particularly in the agricultural seasons.
The Bhadra reservoir is crucial for agriculture in central Karnataka, the protesters say, and water diversion in excess would be a threat for local farmers who depend on the reservoir for irrigation and farming. The issue has come to be a point of contention among farmers and farmers’ organizations and they are asking the government to stop water extraction.
The BJP leader M.P. Renukacharya told the gathering during the protest march that the state government has dismissed farmers’ concerns and made decisions without consulting stakeholders. He said the gutka ban and water diversion plan have caused uncertainty amongst farmers and that the government should withdraw the orders immediately.
Farmers and BJP leaders have called for a complete bandh in Davanagere district on Monday. The bandh will be held as farmers and BJP leaders have called for a total bandh on Monday.
Protest leaders have also warned that if the government does not reverse its decisions, they will escalate the agitation by organizing a statewide protest and a “Vidhana Soudha Chalo” movement in Bengaluru. That’s where farmers of different districts can come together and put pressure on the government’s political system.
That shows the continuing tension of public health policy, water management and agriculture’s economics. With the Davanagere bandh coming up the state government needs to address the issues with farmer representatives to find a solution before the movement moves too far forward to the national level to have a peaceful dialogue.
