Karnataka: State government declares 100 talukas of 24 districts as drought-affected

After severe drought hit districts of Maharashtra, 100 talukas of 24 districts of Karnataka have also been declared drought affected. A study conducted by the Karnataka state government revealed that a loss of Rs 16,500 Crore has been recorded due to crop loss. After which the state government implemented a crop loan waiver scheme which is set to put a burden of Rs 48,000 crore on the state exchequer. After the severe drought hits the state during the Kharif season of 2018, the state government also asked for assistance from the central government. Reportedly, deficient rainfall in the season this year has led to severe drought situation in the state. Meanwhile, Karnataka is the country’s first state to come with a crop insurance policy, with the highest amount provided anywhere in the country. The new scheme is likely to benefit the smaller and the marginal farmers of the state. The cotton, maize, moong and urad crops grown in Maharashtra have been hit due to deficient rainfall, leaving the marginal farmers with little income to survive until the 2019 harvest. In the Marathwada region- all tehsils have been identified as severely drought-affected areas.