Bengaluru, November 3: Karnataka has requested ₹22,400.58 crore in drought relief from the Union government, seeking faster approval and release of assistance for farmers facing extensive crop losses.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on November 2. He also requested meetings to explain Karnataka’s revised financial requirement and the agricultural crisis outlined in its memorandum.
According to the state’s assessment, drought has affected 226 taluks, damaging crops across 57.93 lakh hectares. The memorandum estimates economic losses at ₹62,481.88 crore, highlighting the scale of distress faced by agricultural households.
Karnataka increased its relief demand from ₹20,585.73 crore after the Centre revised assistance norms under the State Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Response Fund. The revised framework covers the period from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
The changes raised the state’s assessed crop-loss input subsidy requirement to ₹7,943.55 crore. Other components of its earlier submission remain unchanged.
Parameshwara said the revised compensation rates still did not adequately reflect cultivation expenses. He urged the Centre to consider spending on seeds, fertilisers, labour and irrigation when assessing support.
The minister also questioned reliance on Agriculture Census 2015–16 figures to determine eligibility. Karnataka has recommended using its FRUITS farmer database to help identify beneficiaries through updated, verified records.
The state has sought an early examination of its revised memorandum and release of eligible assistance. Its request emphasises timely support and closer coordination between governments to address farmers’ losses.