Hundreds of farmers, under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS), blocked the inter-state highway at Askihal bypass, about 5 kms from here, on Thursday, demanding satisfactory compensation for their crop-loss in the recent pre-monsoon downpour.
Vehicular movement was disrupted for an hour.
The agitating farmers, holding banners and green and red flags, raised slogans against both Union and State governments for their “negligence” in addressing issues of rain-hit farmers in as many as 13 taluks in the State including Sindhanur, Manvi, Raichur, Deodurg and Lingasugur taluks in Raichur district.
Criticising the State government’s decision to pay compensation at Rs. 25,000 a hectare to farmers crop-loss, the farmers demanded a compensation of Rs. 20,000 for a loss of an acre of paddy, Rs. 30,000 an for the loss of an acre of vegetable crop and Rs. 40,000 for the loss of an acre of horticultural crops.
“The Union and State governments are insulting farmers by announcing meagre amount of compensation for crop loss. The government should pay a respectful compensation,” Chamarasa Malipatil, state president of KRRS demanded.
Mallayya Jalahalli, district president of KPRS, lashed out at governments for their “illogical” compensation. “We are not able to understand on what basis the Union and State governments have fixed the compensation amount which is far below the expenditure incurred on the crop,” he said.
Amaranna Gudihal, state secretary of KRRS, berated officials for improper survey of crop destruction. “The officials have assessed the quantum of crop destruction without visiting remote fields which were worst hit in the rains,” he said.
The farmers also demanded the government to open a paddy procurement centre in each taluk and purchase the crop at Rs. 2,000 a quintal.
Assistant Commissioner, Raichur, M.P. Maruthi visited the agitating spot and received the memorandum assured the farmers to forward all their demands to government. “We have received oral instructions from government to open paddy procurement centres in all taluks and the process is underway. The district administration would forward the demand for higher compensation to government,” he said.
