K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Arsikere MLA, and his supporters, staged a day-and-night dharna at a coconut farm at Geejihalli in Arsikere taluk on Monday, demanding a fair relief for coconut growers, who have suffered huge losses owing to drought. More than 8 lakh coconut trees have died in the taluk following three years of drought.
The MLA had raised the issued in the Assembly and submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Agriculture demanding relief for the growers. Mr. Gowda said more than 29 lakh coconut trees had been affected by drought in the district. “We have been fighting for compensation to the growers, who were dependant on coconut trees for their livelihood. A family was meeting its requirements with the yield from 100 trees. Now thousands of families have lost their source of income,” he said.
The MLA recalled that he raised the issue in the Assembly and appealed to the Centre for a special package. “The response from both governments has been discouraging. In the coming days, the protest will be intensified with the support of JD(S) senior leaders H.D.Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy,” he said.