Karnataka government has declared 101 talukas across the state drought-affected after an extensive assessment of rainfall deficiency, crop condition, and water availability. That comes after nearly two months of fears of a lack of monsoon rainfall and growing distress among farmers.
According to the recent declaration, 89 talukas of 20 districts have been classified as severely drought-affected and another 12 talukas in 7 districts are moderately drought-affected. But the declaration comes at a time of a worsening agricultural season, and several districts are suffering from severe drought, in which there are significant rainfall shortages in the crucial sowing season.
The situation had been building for weeks. There are dozens of talukas under severe or moderate drought-like conditions, and earlier assessments had identified them. An analysis on 9 August found 94 talukas in the affected talukas, 54 severely affected and 40 moderately affected. By 25 August, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said 102 talukas were experiencing drought conditions and that a full report would be delivered to the Union government by the end of August.
The rainfall deficit has put severe pressure on Karnataka’s farming sector. The state has been hit by a 30 per cent rainfall deficit during the early monsoon season, and this has had a negative impact on the crops and water supply for sowing, crop growth and food. The impact on agriculture is severe in parts of South Interior Karnataka.
The effects ripple down to more than agriculture. For farmers who could not sow crops because of lack of rainfall, we’re seeing crop damage, and farmers who do sow have suffered crop damage after long dry spells. Agriculture officials and experts have also warned of a potentially catastrophic drop in foodgrain production. Karnataka could suffer a loss in foodgrain production of about 50 lakh tonnes if the rainfall deficit continues, according to an estimate.
The state government has also been preparing to seek help from the Centre. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the state government will submit a detailed drought report to the Union government by the end of August after completion of assessment according to prescribed guidelines.
The delay in naming the drought-affected areas has attracted attention because farmers have already had crop failures, water shortages and uncertain markets. The declaration will also enable the government to start relief and compensation measures and lay the groundwork for financial assistance from the Centre.
The crisis is also happening in conjunction with other water-stress problems in Karnataka. Drinking water availability and reservoir levels have been monitored by state officials, and the government has made drinking water a priority for drought-hit areas.
Now that 101 talukas are officially drought-affected, they will be the focus of attention: the scale and speed of relief efforts, compensation for crop loss, drinking-water arrangements and the state’s request for central assistance. For hundreds of thousands of farming families, the effectiveness of these measures could determine how dramatically the current drought affects the agricultural economy in the months ahead.
