79% sowing has been done in the state. The crop is drying due to lack of rain. According to the decision taken by the cabinet sub-committee, the crop condition is being surveyed in the severe drought affected area. Officials have already been informed, the report will be received by the end of this month and a decision will be taken again in the cabinet sub-committee: Agriculture minister Chaluvarayaswamy has informed that more than 130 taluks of the state are under the shadow of drought and said that an official decision will be taken next week regarding the declaration of drought.

Speaking at a press conference after holding a meeting with officials of the Agriculture Department at Vidhansouda on Friday, he said that 79% sowing has been done in the state. The crop is drying due to lack of rain. According to the decision taken by the cabinet sub-committee, the crop condition is being surveyed in the severe drought affected area. Officials have already been informed and a report will be received by the end of this month and a decision will be taken in the cabinet sub-committee. He said that action will be taken according to the guidelines of the Center for drought declaration.

Normal rainfall from june 1 to august 24 is 651 mm. The expected and actual rainfall is 487 mm. is There is a 25 percent shortage. There is a demand of 5.54 lakh quintal of sowing seed and availability of 77,445 quintal. 3.30 lakh quintal has been distributed. Currently seed availability is 80 thousand quintal RSK. Demand for fertilizer in Monsoon season is 25.47 lakh metric tonnes and stock available is 33.20 lakh metric tonnes. 19.89 lakh metric tonnes were sold. 13.30 Lakh MT is the remaining stock. There are 36 notified crops in the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture and already 16.23 lakh farmers have registered for crop insurance. A total of 15.31 lakh hectares are covered under crop insurance. He explained that in the year 2022-23, 12.64 lakh farmers registered for crop insurance and got Rs.1114.17 crore.

More agricultural pits are to be constructed under Krishi Bhagya Yojana. Centrally awarded schemes and other schemes should be integrated and implemented effectively. It has been decided to set up 300 harvest hubs under Navodyam Yojana. He said that 100 hubs will be started early in the current year and facilities will be provided for the use of farmers.

Due to the drought situation, it has been suggested that the officials at the district level should not only be in the office but also go to the farmers' fields to observe the situation and give advice and cooperation as well as work to build confidence. The appointed nodal officers should visit the districts regularly and review the drought situation and the implementation of departmental schemes. Officers are directed to report to them from time to time about the work undertaken. I also travel to one district every month and visit farmers' fields directly. A dialogue will be held with farmers, office bearers of farmer producer organizations and representatives of farmer organizations. It was decided that the problems of the farmers should be solved immediately. He informed that farmers dialogue program will be started from Chitradurga district on 29th of this month.

The Revenue Department has issued a circular to all district Collectors to conduct a joint survey under the charge of district Collectors in 113 taluks where there is a drought situation in the state and submit the actual report of the crop condition by august 31. There is a non-supply situation in more than 120 taluks of the state. Most of the dams are dry. Farmers are facing hardship as they cannot even do dry farming. Former Chief Ministers B.S. Yeddyurappa and Basavaraja Bommai have demanded that the state government should immediately declare the drought-affected taluks without delay.