Dharwad farmers rally for crop compensation and drought support

Hundreds of farmers held a tractor rally and padayatra in Dharwad on Saturday, demanding government action on crop losses and other effects of drought. The demonstration was organised by farmers’ organisations with the support of the BJP. It began at the Durgadevi temple in Shivalli village, in Dharwad taluk, and was flagged off by former MLA Amrut Desai, who drove a tractor along the route.

The procession included tractors and bullock carts and passed through Hebballi, Kanakoor, Talavayi, Kavalagi and Amminabhavi before reaching Jubilee Circle in Dharwad. Desai and other leaders then led a march from Murugha Math to the circle. The farmers submitted a memorandum to the tahsildar after raising slogans against the Congress government and Chief Minister D.K.

Shivakumar. Their demands included ₹50,000 per acre in kharif crop-loss compensation and a complete waiver of crop loans. They also called for adequate and regular electricity supplies for agricultural pump sets.

In addition, the protesters sought free fodder for cattle owned by farmers in areas experiencing shortages. Desai, BJP leaders Gangadhar Patil Kulkarni, former Dharwad mayor Iresh Anchatageri and Shankar Kmaradesai addressed the gathering. They criticised the state government over what they described as its failure to ease farmers’ difficulties during the drought.

The rally caused congestion in parts of Dharwad as a large number of tractors entered the city. Traffic was diverted through alternative routes. The source material did not state whether the government had responded to the memorandum or the specific demands.